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St John the Baptist’s College, Portadown

Welcome to St. John the Baptist's Nurtury!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Working within the principles of Nurture UK, St. John the Baptist’s College have introduced a Nurture Centre. “The Nurtury" is staffed by two fully qualified Nurture Practitioners, who work with a small group of children and young people who are facing barriers to learning.

Increasing numbers of children and young people are affected by social and emotional issues in today’s world. As a result, their progress and life chances may be significantly inhibited and limited. Within schools it is widely accepted that some of our young people just need that extra support or intervention to help them develop confidence, a sense of belonging, resilience and self-belief. However, the unfortunate truth is that there are limited opportunities within our conventional school system to address these needs in a focused and sustained manner. Imperial evidence on the impact of nurture provision suggests that the type of intensive support offered to children in a nurture group setting is very valuable and within SJBC we have found this to be the case. As a ‘needs led’ programme, our approach is founded and informed on evidence-based research and practice.

The progress of all of our children who engage with the Nurtury is carefully monitored and these findings are used to design individualised therapies and support programmes for each student both while in the Nurtury as well as when they re-integrate full-time into main stream setting again.

Aside from the targeted Nurtury provision, all staff in SJBC we are committed to providing a “Nurturing School” environment and we apply the broad principles of the Nurtury across all areas of school life- we are dedicated to improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people and work to remove barriers to learning by promoting nurture in all aspects of education.

 

 

Fab fifteens at the Nurture

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Pupils opted to substitute cherries for chocolate chips, making these little delights especially yummy. Yum! 😋

 

Nurture Programme

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Pupils at Nurture have been getting to know each other, building new friendships and developing social and communication skills, as they settle in to the Nurture Programme at the Nurtury.

 

Key Stage 4 Nurture Provision

Building on the overwhelming success of our KS3 Nurture provision, which is embedded in our whole school nurturing approach, SJBC is delighted to announce a bespoke KS4 Nurture programme. The 6 Principles of Nurture are central to the provision at both KS3 and KS4 levels.

Students who are completing GCSE subjects, or equivalencies, can avail of specialist 1:1 or small group support with their curriculum in a nurturing environment. Alongside curriculum support, the students are offered mentoring by the KS4 Nurture Practitioner, Mrs Shileen McCabe. This bespoke support is provided within Nurture Room 2 and also within the classroom setting as Mrs McCabe joins the students to offer specialist help and advice during key subjects such as GCSE English and Maths.

The KS4 Nurture provision also extends to break and lunch clubs for the boys and girls, who can relax in calm surroundings, or enjoy a game of pool or table tennis! The KS4 Nurture provision ensures that the students have every opportunity to excel in their chosen subjects while engaging with well-being strategies to boost social and emotional well-being.

What our students say:

"My mood has improved, I like coming out here and my work has improved too. It also helps with my attendance knowing that I can come here when I'm in school".

"I know I have someone who can help and support me when I need it. A nice quiet space to chill my mind".

"Coming out here gives me a chance to release stress. I can relax with my friends, I love going to the gym and coming out here, I get the same feeling". "When I come here I know my work is guaranteed to be done". 

News

12th Oct 2023
If no one has told you today, YOU'RE AMAZING! Affirmation cards made by Nurture...
 
 
 
 
25th Jan 2023
This afternoon Nurture pupils took part in a 10 minute daily calm meditation. This...
 
 
 
 
14th Jan 2023
Pupils from The Nurtury enjoyed an archery session at The Bushcraft Centre, Oxford...
 
 
 
 
16th Nov 2022
Art has an incredible way of helping us relax, let go. and disconnect from stress. It...
 
 
 
 
15th Nov 2022
Self-Soothing: Calming the Amygdala and Reducing the Effects of Trauma - Nurture...
 
 
 
 
13th Nov 2022
Learning to fully relax, lower the heart rate, control breathing and release adrenaline...
 
 
 
 
13th Nov 2022
Cooking and sharing food is an important time in a Nurture session. Pupils develop...
 
 
 
 
10th Nov 2022
Using Plutchik's emotion colour wheel, Nurture pupils used colour to identify and...