An initiative at Ysgol Wdig in Goodwick which helps children with emotional, social, and behavioural difficulties to be successfully included in mainstream school has won a national award.
The school is the first Welsh-medium school in the country, and the first school west of Swansea to receive the Quality Mark Award from the National Nurture Group Network.
The school’s Nurture Group provides a short-term learning environment for up to 10 children with two caring and supportive staff, in a small nurturing setting within the school.
Careful assessments are carried out of the child’s cognitive, social and emotional needs, and strategies are then implemented to meet those needs. The aim is for the child to return to mainstream schooling within four terms.
Councillor Huw George, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, Learning and the Welsh Language, congratulated Ysgol Wdig, saying: “Doing well at school is an important factor for the healthy development of children and young people. We are very proud that Ysgol Wdig is the first Welsh-medium school in the country to achieve this award.”
Headteacher at Ysgol Wdig, Mari Brame, praised Elaine Williams and Anne Harries, who run the school’s Nurture Group, for their dedication and commitment.
“The group has played a major part in ensuring a positive ethos, not only for the children who’ve benefited from the support of the facility, but for the whole school,” said Mrs Brame.
The group at Ysgol Wdig is among a growing number of similar groups in Pembrokeshire.
Julie Jones, Specialist Teacher to the Educational Psychology Service at Pembrokeshire County Council, said the entire school benefits as the children learn to interact and grow both in confidence and ability.
She added that the school-based intervention’s supportive, no-blame policy encourages the growth of self-esteem for both the child and their family, and staff endeavour to work with parents to ensure that they feel part of the process.
“Parental feedback emphasises that this is essential,” said Julie. “Nurture groups make parents feel part of the child’s growing success and as a consequence, self-esteem is raised. The positive feedback from parents is fantastic. They are also very much a social part of the group and enjoy invitations to breakfasts, ‘stay and play’ mornings and other activities.”
National research shows that the academic and social progress that the children achieve is often relatively quick, and on average 80% return full time to their class with which they have always kept contact. For the 20% for whom the group is not enough, a much clearer picture of the child’s special needs emerges, which enables the transition to an appropriate placement to be planned.
There are several nurture groups in Pembrokeshire, in key stages 1,2 and 3. Within secondary schools, the aim is primarily to tackle any stress and difficulty in the transition from Year 6 to Year 7. Pembrokeshire also has a Nurture Group Network in order to support staff, and this includes members from Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.
Pembrokeshire County Council funded the training of eight members of staff to be trained by the Nurture Group Network in order to deliver the four day accredited Nurture Group training to others. Almost 100 people have now received this training within the county. This ensures that not only are training venues based locally but that high levels of ongoing support and advice is readily available to school staff.
Earlier this year, Pembrokeshire Nurture Groups were represented at an event at the House of Lords. Organised by the Nurture Group Network, it was hosted by Baroness Warnock to highlight the success of such groups.
For further information regarding nurture groups, contact: [email protected] or view www.nurturegroups.org
Pictured is Marian Evans from the Nurture Award network, who presented the Quality Mark to Ysgol Wdig with (holding the certificate) Elaine Williams and Anne Harries, Learning Support Assistants at the School, with Councillor Huw George and Headteacher Mari Brame.
