National Nurturing School

We Continue to Be a National Nurturing School

At Bridgelea, nurturing is not an initiative or programme. It is the foundation of everything we do.

We are proud to continue to be recognised as a National Nurturing School, reflecting our commitment to creating a safe, inclusive and supportive environment where every child can thrive emotionally, socially and academically.

Our nurturing approach is embedded across both school sites and is underpinned by the six principles of nurture. These principles shape our curriculum, relationships, behaviour support, safeguarding practices and partnerships with families.

We believe that all behaviour is communication and that positive relationships are at the heart of successful learning.

What Nurture Looks Like at Bridgelea

Our nurture-based approach ensures that:

• Every child feels safe, valued and understood.
• Relationships are at the centre of learning.
• Children’s emotional wellbeing is prioritised alongside academic progress.
• Staff support children to recognise, understand and regulate their emotions.
• Communication is adapted to meet individual needs.
• Pupils are listened to and their views influence decision-making.
• Transitions into, through and beyond Bridgelea are carefully planned and supported.
• Families are recognised as key partners in every child’s success.

Highlights from Our Nurture Journey

Throughout our recent nurture quality assurance and review work, inspectors, staff, parents and pupils recognised the strength of Bridgelea’s nurturing culture.

Staff Feedback

“The nurture principles are woven through everything we do.”

“Relationships are the foundation of our success.”

“Everyone genuinely cares about one another and wants the best for our children.”

“Children know they belong here.”

“There is a real culture of support, reflection and continuous improvement.”

Parent Feedback

“My child feels safe and understood.”

“The communication from school is excellent.”

“Bridgelea supports the whole family, not just the child.”

“The staff go above and beyond.”

What Children Tell Us

Children tell us that:

• They feel safe in school.
• There is always someone they can talk to.
• Staff help them when they are worried or upset.
• They enjoy opportunities to share their views.
• They are proud to belong to Bridgelea.

Strengthening Our Nurturing Practice

Alongside our National Nurturing School status, we continue to strengthen our provision through:

Gold Rights Respecting School

Children learn about their rights and responsibilities through the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), helping them develop respect, empathy and a strong sense of belonging.

Communication Friendly Practice

We are proud to have achieved Elklan Communication Friendly Status, recognising our commitment to creating communication-rich learning environments and ensuring that language and communication needs are supported effectively across the school.

Trauma-Informed Practice

Staff receive ongoing training in trauma-informed approaches, helping children understand their emotions and build positive strategies for managing challenges.

Emotion Coaching and Regulation Support

Children are supported through:

• Emotion Coaching
• Zones of Regulation
• Restorative approaches
• Therapeutic conversations
• Social and emotional learning

Pupil Voice

Children influence school improvement through:

• School Council
• RRSA Ambassadors
• Pupil surveys
• Article 12 Squad
• Class discussions
• Individual reviews

How We Work with Families

Families are central to our nurturing community.

We aim to:

• Build positive and trusting relationships.
• Keep parents and carers informed.
• Listen carefully to concerns and ideas.
• Work in partnership to support children’s development.
• Offer guidance, advice and signposting where needed.
• Celebrate successes together.

We encourage families to attend reviews, workshops, assemblies, celebrations and school events, helping children see that home and school are working together.

We Nurture Staff Too

A nurturing school is built by nurturing adults.

At Bridgelea we are committed to staff wellbeing through:

• Professional supervision and reflective practice.
• Access to wellbeing support.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Collaborative working and peer support.
• A culture of kindness, respect and belonging.

When staff feel valued and supported, they are best placed to support our children and families.

Looking Forward

As part of our journey towards future reaccreditation, we remain committed to:

• Maintaining the highest standards of nurturing practice.
• Continuing to strengthen pupil voice.
• Developing communication-friendly environments.
• Deepening trauma-informed approaches.
• Supporting families and multi-agency partners.
• Ensuring every child feels safe, valued, respected and ready to learn.