In partnership with Surrey Nurturing Schools Programme
We are delighted to announce that Greensand has been collaborating with the Surrey Nurturing Schools Programme (SNSP), a unique initiative that aims to provide support for pupils’ social, emotional and mental health (SEMH).
Aligned to our key values that every child should feel safe, valued, and empowered to “step into their greatness,” the Six Principles of Nurture have been adopted to create a consistent and inclusive culture in all our schools.
Delivered by national charity nurtureuk and facilitated by Schools Alliance for Excellence (SAfE), the SNSP offers a framework to embed nurturing values across all key stakeholders – governors, trustees, staff, and pupils – while addressing the need for a clear, accessible approach to SEMH support.
Strategic Implementation and Training
Developed following a successful nurture programme at Epsom Downs Community School and Early Years Centres, the campaign was launched through a series of Trust-wide events which included:
- Headteacher sessions on cultural change
- SENDCo workshops
- Governor training on the neuroscience of nurture.
All schools in our Trust have received training from nurtureuk, along with access to tools such as the Boxall Profile to identify SEMH needs and tailor support through Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
Transforming Culture and Practice
The SNSP will be utilised to help reshape relationships and classroom dynamics through a shared language and set of strategies; these are already being used effectively to prioritise emotional regulation before addressing behaviour.
These tactics help to de-escalate situations, creating calmer classroom environments that ensure consistent responses and improved behaviour management, in turn improving staff wellbeing by better equipping teachers to support pupils.
Positive Outcomes and Lasting Impact
We hope the impact on pupils will continue to be profound, dramatically reducing the incidents of children attempting to leave school and improving overall attendance.
Providing tools like Zones of Regulation for self-expression, SNSP helps encourage pupils to be more emotionally resilient and better able to participate in school life.
Greensand CEO, Sue Wardlow, is thrilled with the outcomes of the programme so far:
“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.”
We will continue to monitor the programme through the SNSP award process, Boxall Profiles, and stakeholder feedback. Regular leadership meetings and ongoing reinforcement will help to further embed the nurturing ethos and ensure consistency.
Looking ahead, we are committed to sustaining and deepening this work. The Trust’s advice to others is: “Make nurture a central, ongoing priority – because when children feel safe and supported, they thrive”.
