National Nurturing School Award

The National Nurturing School Award team created a celebratory video for us to watch and enjoy. Please see media box above view the video.

I am delighted to announce that we have been awarded the prestigious and nationally recognized ‘National Nurturing School Award’. The award recognises the efforts to embed nurturing principles across the whole school community and our dedication to children’s mental health and wellbeing. This is a fantastic achievement for our staff team who have worked incredibly hard to develop and embed a nurturing culture throughout the school and promote healthy outcomes for children and young people, all by focusing on their emotional needs and development.

Here are some of the highlights from the accreditation assessment report:

Addingham Primary School is a community Primary School for children between 4 and 11 years of age. The school has embraced the NNSP journey as an additional tool for their self-evaluation and continuous improvement approach. The assessment visit, detailed folders of evidence, self-evaluation audits and application for the award displayed their knowledge, understanding and application of nurture as an educational approach. From pupils, families, staff and wider partnerships Addingham Primary School have made impressive progress during the two years of the NNSP process.

There is a commitment and passion to place the needs of the pupils at the heart of school practice. The school places a very high importance on listening to the pupil and encouraging pupil voice through means appropriate to everyone. A wide range of interventions are used. Children are respected and given a means to communicate their needs, wishes and feelings.

Staff are open and welcoming and feel part of a team. There is clearly an unwavering, supportive ethos within the school. The school leadership team has a clear vision that the nurturing approach is central to all their work. The staff understand the importance of having a holistic approach towards the children in their care and within their community. There is a clear vision for the future at Addingham Primary School.

The environment is creative and stimulating with displays of children’s work and multiple examples of wellbeing, nurture, growth mindset, planned transitions, clear expectations and consistent approaches.

A variety of assessment tools are used to assess and track pupils’ social, emotional health and wellbeing needs (SEMH). 

Improving the health and wellbeing of children is a key priority in the School Improvement Plan. The school provides support for children to develop their self-esteem, confidence, social collaboration, and expression. Ofsted reports from both 2016 and 2020 highlight how the children are at the ‘centre of the school’ with regards to planning and delivery.

Safeguarding for the pupils, staff and community is a priority. Repeatedly during the visit with staff at all levels and partner agencies it was clear that there was a safe and welcoming atmosphere at the school. During the assessment and through the evidence provided it was evident that the children felt safe and secure in the setting.

There is a focus upon the quality of relationships. The staff are aware of the diverse nature of the pupils needs. There is a focus on how best to support all pupils. This is flexible and adaptive to meet specific needs. It was clearly evident that there was a clear commitment to do the best for all children, their families, staff and other stakeholders at the school.

The behaviour policy outlines the expectations of all staff, children and parents. Restorative approaches and language are to be employed by all staff. A variety of positive reinforcement strategies are used including Restorative Practice. Regular staff meetings allow time to discuss, plan and share strategies and develop practice.

I would like to thank the school in going ahead with the accreditation at a time when the school and staff are coping with the challenges of the Covid 19 lockdown. Their optimism and enthusiasm shone through. Wendy Roden, Assessor National Nurturing Schools Award.

“Congratulations to Addingham Primary School for achieving the National Nurturing Schools Award.  It has been a pleasure to work with the school over the past three years implementing the Jenby’s in Schools Project, to promote and improve children’s emotional and mental health.  I am very proud of what we have been able to achieve together, "Dr Natalie Jewitt - Jenby's