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Nurture Groups in Secondary Schools

One of the exciting developments for nurture groups has been the growing interest about the role they can have in secondary schools and in other settings for young people. The key principles of nurture groups include responding to the needs of children in ways that reflect their developmental stage, using ideas from attachment theory to understand children’s behaviour and recognising the importance of positive relationships with adults as essential for the well-being of children and young people. As a school based intervention nurture groups have been demonstrated as extremely effective in reducing behavioural problems and helping children to access opportunities for learning. Research shows how nurture groups can have on a positive impact on the ethos and culture of schools and support closer working relationships with parents.

Having good experiences in primary school is a known protective factor in helping to prevent delinquency and the onset of mental health problems in adolescence. However, there are many children who find the transition to secondary school and the onset of adolescence difficult and for whom this creates huge anxieties which surface their unresolved issues around attachment and relationships with adults.

The Nurture Group Network is working to provide resources to help staff to develop nurture group provision in their work with older children. Early in 2009 the Network will be publishing a revised Boxall Profile and Handbook for use with older children which will include materials to support nurturing work. The Network recognises the diversity of nurture group work with adolescents and that the way the model is delivered will vary. However, as the research illustrates, to be effective it is essential to retain the integrity of the key principles of nurture group provision whatever the shape of the service. Building on the key principles it is possible to identify a number of operational characteristics for nurture group provision within the secondary school that are consistent with best practice. The Self-review Checklist is a useful tool for reviewing your current provision and identifying future action for development.