From Deepi Dhaliwal | Deputy Headteacher at Lorne Street Primary School in Glasgow
At nurtureuk, the Six Principles of Nurture underpin everything we do.
Through our training courses like the National Nurturing Schools Programme, we ask schools to define and explain the Six Nurture Principles to pupils, parents and carers, staff and other stakeholders, to ensure they are embedded and understood across the whole school community. Pupils often translate the Principles into language or concepts that resonate with them, and we have seen some brilliant examples of this over the years.
Whilst thinking about how her pupils, at Lorne Street Primary School in Glasgow, could embrace the Six Principles of Nurture, deputy headteacher Deepi Dhaliwal created a fantastic resource to help other educators introduce the Principles in a child-friendly way.
Each principle is brought to life via a group of friendly characters. Do you want to meet the Nurture Princi-PALS?
A whole-school approach to nurture using children's voices
1. Children’s learning is understood developmentally, with Leo Learning
Leo Learning teaches that everyone has unique abilities and needs. Teaches should use Leo to encourage children to reflect and compare on their own appearance and abilities. What might help Leo Learning and us all to learn? Think: respect, quiet, equipment, etc.
2. The classroom offers a safe base, with Sara Safe
Sara Safe teaches children what safe means and how this might look different to different people. Use Sara Safe to encourage pupils to share what makes them feel safe and why, and what does safe feel like?
Follow-up activities on designing ‘safety glasses’ and the ‘I feel beary safe’ task.
3. The importance of nurture for the development of wellbeing, with William Wellbeing
William Wellbeing helps us to describe different emotions, and encourages children to give examples of ones that they have experienced. You can use him to discuss self-care strategies for wellbeing when bad emotions arise.
4. Language is a vital means of communication, with Luna Language
In The Six Principles of Nurture, Luna Language helps children to express how they feel with the right language. Children are encouraged to share their thoughts with others, with reasons for their answers.
With Luna Language, teachers can emphasise that all feelings are okay, and language helps to communicate our emotions in a positive way. Try asking, who is your favourite person to talk to and why?
5. All behaviour is communication, with Broadie Behaviour
Broadie Behaviour is helpful in explaining that there are parts of life that we can control, and parts that we cannot. With Broadie, we can recognise the situations that can trigger us or others to behave negatively.
Broadie Behaviour teaches us that everybody has worries, but it is how we manage these worries and look after ourselves that matters. We don’t, worrying can result in concerning behaviour such as anger, stress, or sadness.
Broadie Behaviour comes with Circles of Control activity sheet and a Worry Monster template for children to complete.
6. The importance of transitions in children’s lives, with Tory Transition
With Tory Transition, we can help children to plan their weekly routine and demonstrate a positive approach during times of change. Tory Transition helps children to understand that life is filled with ups and downs, and sometimes things don’t go our way. Can the children think of a time this has happened to them? Tory Transition highlights how planning can help us feel prepared for change and ready for the unexpected.
Each Princi-PAL has its own learning plan, resources and additional activities to support educators to explain the Six Principles to pupils in their own setting. You can download this brilliant resource from Deepi Dhaliwal for free below.
From Deepi Dhaliwal | Deputy Headteacher at Lorne Street Primary School in Glasgow