Emma Johnston
Programme Lead, Educational Equity | Schools Alliance for Excellence
Greensand’s journey with the Surrey Nurturing Schools Programme
A shared vision for nurture
Greensand Multi Academy Trust, comprising ten schools across Surrey and West Sussex, joined the Surrey Nurturing Schools Programme (SNSP) to unify its approach to supporting pupils’ social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH). Rooted in the belief that every child should feel safe, valued, and empowered to “step into their greatness,” the trust embraced the Six Principles of Nurture to create a consistent, inclusive culture across all schools.
Delivered by national charity nurtureuk and facilitated by Schools Alliance for Excellence (SAfE), the SNSP offered a framework to embed nurturing values across all stakeholders – governors, trustees, staff, and pupils – while addressing the need for a clear, accessible approach to SEMH support.
Strategic implementation and training
The Surrey Nurturing Schools journey began with Epsom Downs Community School, who were already committed to the approach and had a successful nurture hub. The school had updated their development plan to prioritise nurturing principles, particularly to address emotionally based school non-attendance (EBSNA), and staff were beginning to see huge benefits. Headteacher Anya Salisbury then collaborated with SAfE to secure funding from the Mental Health Investment Fund and the other Greensand schools joined the programme of training, led by nurtureuk.
A series of trust-wide events followed: headteacher sessions on cultural change, SENDCo workshops, and governor training on the neuroscience of nurture. All schools have received training from nurtureuk throughout the programme, with many incorporating it into INSET days. Staff were introduced to tools like the Boxall Profile to identify SEMH needs and tailor support through Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
Transforming culture and practice
The SNSP has reshaped relationships and classroom dynamics across the trust. Staff now prioritise emotional regulation before addressing behaviour, using nurture strategies to de-escalate situations. This has led to calmer classrooms, consistent responses, and improved behaviour management.
Staff wellbeing has also improved. Teachers feel more equipped to support pupils, and teaching assistants have shown strong engagement with the neuroscience behind behaviour. The programme has fostered a shared language and understanding across the trust, while parental engagement has grown through forums and award applications.
Positive outcomes and lasting impact
The impact on pupils has been profound. Incidents of children attempting to leave school have dropped dramatically, and attendance is now in line with national averages. Pupils are more emotionally resilient, using tools like Zones of Regulation to express themselves. One child who previously struggled with severe behavioural issues is now participating in school life, including sports day and assemblies.
Greensand CEO, Sue Wardlow, is thrilled with the outcomes of the programme. “Our trust schools have worked collaboratively with the Surrey Nurturing Schools Programme, finding significant value in shared training, consistent language, and the structured support provided by nurtureuk and SAfE. This collective approach has strengthened staff development and fostered coherence across schools, particularly when aligned with wider policies and strategies such as behaviour and SEND. A strong theme of belonging has emerged, becoming increasingly central to our work. While each school is at a different stage in embedding nurture principles, the evidence of positive impact is clear where these practices are more firmly established. Recognising that cultural change takes time, we remain committed to prioritising this work as a key part of our ongoing development.”
Monitoring through the SNSP award process, Boxall Profiles, and stakeholder feedback has further confirmed the programme’s success. While achieving consistency was a challenge, regular leadership meetings and ongoing reinforcement have helped embed the nurturing ethos.
Looking ahead, Greensand is committed to sustaining and deepening this work. The trust’s advice to others: make nurture a central, ongoing priority – because when children feel safe and supported, they thrive.