At the heart of nurture is a focus on wellbeing and relationships and a drive to support the growth and development of children and young people (1).
Why a Nurturing Approach?
A nurturing approach has been promoted as key to supporting mental health and wellbeing and attainment in Scottish schools. It is also recognised as one of the main ways of supporting the needs of children and young people who have experienced ACES and trauma (2).
Renfrewshire’s Nurturing Relationships Approach (RNRA) emphasises that relationships are at the heart of nurturing approaches and provides an implementation process for establishments to develop nurturing relationships across schools, ELCCs and communities.
What is Renfrewshire’s Nurturing Relationships Approach?
• RNRA increases knowledge of attachment theory and an understanding that early experiences can have a significant impact on development.
• RNRA helps staff to understand the key importance of nurturing relationships to children and young peoples’ mental health and wellbeing, social and emotional development and attainment.
• RNRA supports Staff to put key principles of nurturing practice in place across their establishment.
You can read a summary of research carried out on RNRA which evaluates the impact of this approach on staff and pupils here: RNRA summary for LA May 2020
You can read a report of the outcomes of our 2022 RNRA Survey here: Nurturing approaches establishment survey August 2022
The 6 Nurture Principles
• RNRA uses evidence-based approaches to implementation. Our Educational Psychologists provide training and ongoing coaching and support to all our RNRA establishments.
Our Implementation Arc
Who is already on board?
As of January 2022 almost all Primary schools and all Secondary schools, specialist provisions and Early Learning and Childcare Centres have committed to developing RNRA. We are also working with our funded providers in the early years to support their RNRA journey.
How can I find out more?
Please explore the RNRA tab on the main menu. We have a range of guides, videos, examples of good practice, resources and other useful information here which is updated regularly. If you require specific information about RNRA, please get in touch with us using the contact information to the right of this page.
References
1.Applying Nurture as whole School Approach A framework to support self evaluation
https://education.gov.scot/improvement/Documents/inc55ApplyingNurturingApproaches120617.pdf
2.Nurture, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma-Informed Practice: Making the Links Between These Approaches (Education Scotland)
https://education.gov.scot/improvement/Documents/inc83-making-the-links-nurture-ACES-and-trauma.pdf
