At Peters Hill Primary School, we recognise that before a child can learn, they must first feel safe, secure and valued. Our Nurture Room is a warm, welcoming space designed to meet this fundamental need, a place where pupils can develop the social, emotional and behavioural foundations that underpin successful learning and positive relationships.

Led by our dedicated Nurture Key Worker, Mrs Jones, the Nurture Room is rooted firmly in the six principles of nurture, which shape every aspect of our practice:

• Children's learning is understood developmentally, meeting each child where they are, not where we expect them to be.
• The classroom offers a safe base, a predictable, calm and consistent environment in which pupils can relax and thrive.
• The importance of nurture for the development of wellbeing, emotional health is given equal priority alongside academic progress.
• Language is understood as a vital means of communication, supporting pupils to express feelings and needs appropriately.
• All behaviour is communication, helping adults respond with curiosity and empathy rather than judgement.
• Transitions are important in children's lives, preparing pupils carefully for changes, big and small.

Mrs Jones carefully assesses each pupil's social and emotional development, identifying specific areas of need and tailoring support accordingly. This ensures that every child's time in the Nurture Room is purposeful, individualised and rooted in evidence.

Access to the Nurture Room is timetabled, allowing identified pupils regular, consistent sessions that build trust, routine and a genuine sense of belonging over time. However, the provision remains flexible and responsive, meaning Mrs Jones can also provide timely support for pupils experiencing a difficult moment, a change in circumstance, or an emerging emotional need, ensuring no child has to wait for help when it matters most.

Within the Nurture Room, pupils engage in a rich variety of structured, nurturing activities, including:

• Breakfast groups, which offer a gentle, social start to the day, building relationships and a sense of calm before the busyness of the classroom begins.
• Structured small-group work, focusing on specific social and emotional targets such as turn-taking, emotional vocabulary, friendship skills and self-regulation.
• Play-based learning, which allows pupils to explore emotions, build trust and develop social understanding in a safe, low-pressure way.

Through consistent relationships, predictable routines and genuine warmth, Mrs Jones helps pupils to build self-esteem, develop emotional resilience, and strengthen the trusting relationships that are essential for learning. The Nurture Room is not a space pupils are sent to, it is a space they are welcomed into, where they feel seen, valued and supported to grow.

Ultimately, the Nurture Room reflects our whole-school belief that emotional wellbeing and academic achievement go hand in hand. By addressing children's social and emotional needs with care and expertise, Mrs Jones helps to lay the secure foundations upon which confident, successful learners are built.