Nurture Groups: A Handbook for Schools

A nurture group:

• is a small discrete class;
• provides a safe and predictable structured environment;
• gives children opportunities to revisit early missed ‘nurturing’ experiences.

As well as developing curriculum-based skills, young people are encouraged to acquire skills such as listening, sharing and turn-taking.

There is growing interest in developing nurture groups to support children with social, emotional and behavioural problems in schools. This is because the approach has proved beneficial for vulnerable children and their families.

The handbook provides the information required to set up and effectively run nurture groups in primary and secondary schools.  A number of case studies support and illustrate the principles explained.