First Published in 2001. Nurture groups are spreading rapidly throughout the UK. This fully updated second edition is written in response to the support given by the DfEE to the Nurture Group project and the recognition by every major special needs policy document that they provide effective early intervention for children showing signs of emotional and behavioural difficulties.
This book is a bible for nurture group enthusiasts and should be essential reading for anybody who has the desire to make a significant impact in the area of social change.
′[This] resource would have enormous value for all who are considering developing nurture provision within their school, as it provides a clear overview of the practical considerations involved and provides guidance on the tools that need to be devised. This well thought out resource will reduce the workload for all those setting up groups and be a real confidence giver to all Nurture leaders′ - SNIP ′What an excellent book! ′Running A Nurturing Group′ does exactly what it says in the title and much more. The layout and framework must make it one of the most accessible books ever. Every chapter states its intention, unfurls – and then is concisely summarised at the end. Then we have questionnaires, tick lists, case studies and PowerPoint presentations; just what tired teachers need to take on a new body of knowledge. There is a wonderful balance of practical suggestions and theory – at all the times you feel you are in the hands of a dedicated, researcher and practitioner.′ Jenny Mosley, Founder of Quality Circle Time `Running a Nurture Group is a worthwhile book full of useful ideas and resources for nurture group practitioners. Simon Bishop is a skilled nurture group practitioner and he links his contemporary, practical experience to the wider range of ideas and thinking that inform and underpin nurture group work in a helpful and accessible style. I am delighted to commend this important addition to the increasing literature on nurture groups - Jim Rose, Director, The Nurture Group Network Setting up and running a Nurture Group in your school is an effective way to improve the quality of educational provision for every child, not just for those with special educational needs. This practical book is especially useful for those new to the idea of Nurture Groups. It offers a clear structure for making a Nurture Group work effectively, and provides tried and tested photocopiable resources to support the whole process. The author: o explains how and why Nurture Groups work o shows how all children′s social, emotional & educational development improves o gives practical advice on setting up and running a Nurture Group o tells you how to assess and monitor the children′s progress o supplies materials to use when leading INSET sessions with colleagues o provides lots of photocopiable resources on an accompanying CD Rom. An inspirational read for all teachers and support staff, this book will appeal to anyone working with children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.
The authors present evidence of the success of nurture groups, and examine what factors affect the success of the group. From this they draw key messages for effective practice, including the importance of recognising a child's emotional needs and meeting them, and the role of the relationship between the teaching staff co-ordinating the group.
In times of increasing pressure on schools and teachers, it is essential that teachers are equipped to understand the emotional and relational factors in learning and teaching. Vulnerable and disaffected children need understanding and nurture rather than reactive management, which can easily exacerbate their difficulties, leaving them unheard and defensive, and even undermine teacher confidence and effectiveness. Understanding, Nurturing and Working Effectively with Vulnerable Children in Schools offers a comprehensive and accessible exploration of the difficulties faced by teachers and schools from at-risk and disaffected children, including repeated trauma and insecure attachment patterns. The book describes how a thoughtful ‘relationship-based’ approach can both alleviate such difficulties and offer a second chance attachment experience, enabling students to discover it might be safe to let down their all consuming defences a little; thus freeing them to begin to learn. It offers: practical suggestions in note form – making them easy to use, refer to and assimilate; numerous case examples and teacher friendly theoretical background material; a wealth of ideas for ways forward, including differentiated responses to children in the light of their particular patterns, developmental stages and unmet needs. Written from extensive professional experience, this is an essential handbook and resource book for trainers, schools, teachers and school staff, and also for educational psychologists and those in children’s services working with vulnerable children in pre and primary schools, as well as those in special schools and units.
Harris takes on the "experts" and boldly questions conventional wisdom of parents' role in their children's lives, asserting that it's not the home environment that shapes children, but the environment they share with their peers.
