At Cradley CE Primary School, nurture is at the heart of how we support every child to believe, belong and be happy. It is a proven approach that helps children develop confidence, self-esteem, resilience and strong social skills, so they are ready to learn and thrive.

We understand that children’s wellbeing is shaped by their experiences and relationships. A nurturing environment, where children feel safe, valued and understood, helps them grow emotionally as well as academically. This reflects our Christian values of care, respect, forgiveness and belonging.

Staff are trained to recognise and respond to children’s social and emotional needs alongside their learning needs, ensuring that no child is overlooked.  

At Cradley, we have a dedicated nurture room, led by a highly trained and passionate team of staff, providing consistent, high-quality emotional and pastoral support for our pupils. They use a graduated approach to nurture, providing the right level of support at the right time. Our nurturing approach is guided by the Six Principles of Nurture, which shape our daily practice, policies and relationships. This means:

• All children benefit from a nurturing classroom environment
• Some access small-group nurture provision to build confidence, social skills and emotional regulation
• Some receive bespoke individual nurture sessions, tailored to their specific needs
• A few access more personalised interventions when needed

We also provide practical, supportive arrangements to help children feel settled and secure. These include:

• Soft starts to ease children gently into the school day
• A lunchtime nurture club, offering a calm, supportive alternative space to play and socialise
• Safe, trusted spaces where children can talk, reflect and regulate emotions

These provisions help children to feel ready for learning and confident in managing their feelings and relationships.

We regularly reflect on and support children’s social, emotional and mental wellbeing, working closely with families and external partners when appropriate. By doing so, we help children to take pride in their achievements, build positive relationships and develop the resilience they need for life.

Through nurture, we aim to ensure that every child at Cradley feels known, valued and supported — every child, every chance, every day.

Working with external organisations

At Cradley, we recognise that while we provide strong pastoral care and emotional wellbeing support in school, not all pupils’ mental health needs can be fully met within the classroom setting. For some children, more specialist or bespoke support is needed, and we work closely with trusted charities and external agencies to ensure they receive the right help at the right time. This includes working in partnership with organisations such as Bedazzle and Phase Trust, who offer tailored programmes, mentoring, and therapeutic support. By liaising carefully with families and professionals, we are able to create personalised support pathways that meet each child’s individual needs. This joined-up approach reflects our commitment to helping every pupil feel understood, supported, and able to flourish—so they can believe in themselves, belong in our community, and be happy in their learning.