The Hive

In Key Stage Two we have developed ‘The Hive’ which is a nurture base in the morning and used as an SEN base in the afternoon with a focus on speech and language interventions.

The Hive - Intent

Nurture groups are a short-term, focused intervention for children with particular social, emotional and behavioural difficulties which are creating a barrier to learning within a mainstream class.

Our nurture group will consist of between 6 to 8 children, from Year 5 and 6 in the first instance, led by Mrs Delves – SENDCo and Miss Doherty – Teaching Assistant. Children attending the nurture group remain an active part of their main class, spending appropriate times within the nurture group according to their need, and will return to their main class for the last half term of the school year.

Nurture groups assess learning and social and emotional needs and give help that is needed to remove the barriers to learning. The relationship between the two nurture staff is always nurturing and supportive, providing a role model for children. Food is shared at ‘breakfast’ or ‘snack time’ with much opportunity for social learning, helping children to attend to the needs of others, with time to listen and be listened to.

Nurture support is not limited to the nurture group, as St Anne’s will embed the nurturing principles and practice at a whole school level, providing appropriate support for all pupils. As the children learn academically and socially they develop confidence, become responsive to others, learn self-respect and take pride in behaving well and in achieving

Effective nurture group practice follows the six principles of nurture. The Boxall Profile assessment tool determines which pupils would require to be in the nurture group based on their social, emotional, and mental health needs.

Nurture Group takes place in The Hive. The Hive is designed to be a bridge between home and school; a place where children can feel safe and secure and therefore develop their individual needs further. Children are in nurture for a limited time (typically no more than 2 terms depending on their level of need) and are transitioned back to class when assessments show appropriate progress has been made for them to be successful, independent learners.

How do nurture groups help?

Nurture groups are designed to address the social and emotional needs that can hamper pupils’ learning. So as well as providing academic teaching, the group is designed to help children develop vital social skills, to develop confidence and self-respect, and to take pride in behaving well and in achieving.

In nurture groups, there’s a special emphasis on language development and communication: nothing is taken for granted and everything is clearly explained by the staff, with the help of demonstrations and (where helpful) physical gestures. Pupils are given the time they need both to listen and be listened to.

Nurture groups are also designed to give pupils vital opportunities for social learning – for example by encouraging them to share food at breakfast and ‘snack time’ and to help other pupils in the group. The friendly, supportive relationship between the two members of staff is also itself an important source of learning – a model for the pupils to observe and copy.

What is the purpose of Nurture Group & its Philosophy?

Nurture Group is a small class of pupils (8-10). Its composition is carefully well thought-out to create a balanced and functional group. Its purpose is to offer children opportunities to re-visit early learning skills and promote and support their social and emotional development. There is much research evidence that children’s learning is most effective when they have a sense of emotional well-being, good self-esteem and a feeling of belonging to their school community. The Nurture Room provides children with this opportunity and so helps to develop their maturity and resilience.

Nurture is not about excluding children from a quality education, it is about providing a bespoke curriculum that will ensure children have the opportunity to develop their social skills and emotional awareness. The Nurture Room is a place of learning.

Before children attend nurture provision parents are informed by the class teacher and will give parents a leaflet and a letter with more information. Parents are requested to sign a permission slip before their child can attend.

How does St Anne’s School Nurture Group operate?

The Hive operates 4 days a week Monday-Thursday 8.35-12.30.
It is staffed by our SENDCo Mrs Delves and an experienced TA Miss Doherty
The SENDCO is responsible for the running of the group, ensuring regular observations, tracking the progress of the children, liaising with all members of staff and parents; supporting the Nurture Staff; selecting the children and overseeing the resettlement/transition of the children.

Who is Nurture Group for?

Children may attend sessions in the Nurture Group for specific reasons, such as having experienced trauma, low self esteem, struggling with social situations, working below age related expectation, struggling to make and maintain friendships.

How long will a child be in the Nurture Group?

It depends on the need of the child. We will use the Boxall Profile to assess the child’s area of need before they start Nurture Group. We then continue to assess from the Boxall Profile (approximately termly) to track their progress and set new targets. Typically a child is in nurture group for around two terms but it is different for every child.

How do Nurture staff communicate with class teachers?

Specific targets are set for children within our nurture group according to the children’s needs. Targets are shared with the class teacher so they can promote and help the child work towards their targets.
Children’s ISP and Boxall will be updated half termly – SENDCo and class teacher will meet to do this jointly so that needs are met within the main classroom too.

Nurture timetable

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday
8.35-9.00	Journal Register Collective worship	Journal Register Collective worship	Journal Register Collective worship	Journal Register Collective worship
9.00-9.15	Motor skills/Handwriting	Motor skills/Handwriting	Motor skills/Handwriting	Motor skills/Handwriting
9.15-9.30	Statement to live by – add to altar	Nurture activity	Nurture activity	Nurture activity – show and tell
9.30-10.00	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic
10.00-10.30	Areas of provision 1:1 reading	Areas of provision 1:1 reading	Areas of provision 1:1 reading	Areas of provision 1:1 reading
10.30-10.45	Snack	Snack	Snack	Snack
10.45-11.15	Areas of provision 1:1 reading Opportunity for outdoor play	Areas of provision 1:1 reading Opportunity for outdoor play	Areas of provision 1:1 reading Opportunity for outdoor play	Areas of provision 1:1 reading Opportunity for outdoor play
11.15-11.30	Language game	Memory game	Language game	Memory game
11.30-11.45	Break	Break	Break	Break
11.45-12.00	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic
12.00-12.15	Mindful colouring Reading Game	Mindful colouring Reading Game	Mindful colouring Reading Game	Mindful colouring Reading Game
12.15-12.35	Meditation/reflection	Meditation/reflection	Meditation/reflection	Meditation/reflection

SEND base – afternoons in The Hive – 12.45-2.45

Children who are on the SEND register may spend some time in The Hive over the course of the week, working on their ISPs supported by a teaching assistant. Sometimes they will need 1:1 interventions and sometimes they will work in a group with other children who have a similar need. All interventions will be based on speech and language advice and reports from Alex Binns our speech and language therapist and also group interventions that he has trained our staff to lead.