Our Personal Development Offer

Personal development is at the heart of everything we do at the Nurture Centre and is embedded across the curriculum in support of our main aim for our pupils to be 'Prepared in all things & ready for anything. 

It is the intent of the Nurture Centre to prepare our pupils to be active and successful members of the local community. We do this by making the deliberate choice to focus our pupils learning around the Core/Personal Development curriculum of; 

Much of the Nurture Centre's approach and ethos is embedded into the daily timetable and as such is specifically focused in in key sessions throughout the day and in the structure of the Daily Assessment Sheet.

The curriculum at the Nurture Centre covers the required range of academic subjects but included additional opportunities that have a key role in promoting personal development. These include the following subjects and lessons;

The Nurture Centre’s PSHE/RSE curriculum is one of the key subjects that supports pupil’s personal development. The Nurture Centre uses Jigsaw PSHE/RSE which is a commercially produced scheme of work that takes a mindful approach and brings together Personal, Social, Health Education, emotional literacy, social skills and spiritual development in a comprehensive scheme of learning. The scheme of work is carefully sequenced to ensure that essential knowledge and skills are deepened over time and supports the pupils to grow and developing into well rounded, active citizens. All pupils are timetabled to access one lesson of PSHE a week with the main theme of the week being reinforced through the ‘Topic of the Week’ discussion focus and regular assembles. 

The Nurture Centre adapts the ‘Leicestershire’s Agreed Syllabus for RE’ to provide opportunity for all our pupils to learn about a diverse range of religions and faiths. The principal aim of religious education is to encourage our pupils to explore what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, it is intended that through RE sessions our pupils can gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle questions raised by religion and belief, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living.

RE sessions support our pupils to gain rich knowledge and understanding about religious and non-religious worldviews. It also helps pupils to develop their own understanding of the world and how to live, in the light of the knowledge studied, so they develop their understanding, skills and attitudes. It makes a significant contribution to pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, as well as offering important opportunities for exploring British values.

RE topics are sequences both horizontally to ensure a breath of study and vertically to ensure opportunity to deeper each pupils’ understanding of religion and faith and is covered through a number of taught sessions each term which are supported by trips/visits to local places of worship, theme day’s and assemblies.

The leaders of the Nurture Centre have made a conscious decision to include Junior & Mini Duke as part school’s personal development offer and timetabled for pupils’ weekly. Junior & Mini Duke are the primary version of the Duke of Edinburgh awards and are focused on developing primary aged pupil’s life skills. The Duke Awards lead pupils through set challenges helping them to grow in independence, confidence and resilience with the aim of helping them become self-sufficient and capable young adults. The age-appropriate challenges cover a wide range of life skills which are sequenced into units which progressively develop knowledge and skills over time.

The Awards complement the Nurture Centre’s personal development intention, and provided planned opportunities that extend beyond the academic, technical or vocational curriculum and support pupils to develop in many diverse aspects of life

Forest School is timetabled all year round, with all pupils accessing at least one session a week. Where possible Forest school sessions are planned to be a whole group/social learning opportunity. The philosophy of Forest School complements the Nurture Centre’s personal development offer as it actively supports pupil to develop good self-esteem and emotional intelligence. The Nurture Centre’s core curriculum model/personal development offer is based on an emotional intelligence approach and has been specifically chosen as the directors believe that developing pupil’s self-esteem and emotional intelligence form vital building blocks for a successful life.

Forest School is a specialised learner-centred approach set in natural surroundings which actively promotes hands-on and reflective learning. Through this approach all pupils are encouraged to explore risk and problem-solve, on a journey of self-discovery. Whilst the philosophy of Forest School demands that much of the learning is pupil led, sessions are designed around a framework of activities including campfires, tool use, tree climbing, knot use, rope swings and showing pupils that the use of natural resources can be beneficial. Within each of the identified areas there is opportunity to ensure that there is a progressive set of skills and knowledge which can be sequenced over time to deepen the understanding, knowledge and skills of each individual pupil.

As part of the Nurture Centre’s commitment to personal development, each pupil has a weekly timetabled well-being session. This session provides opportunity to develop skills which extend beyond the academic, technical or vocational curriculum and support pupils to develop key life skills in the areas of; Mindfulness, Leadership, Health & Nutrition and Sleep & Personal Care. 

The leaders of the Nurture Centre place high importance on supporting its pupils to foster a deeper understanding of life outside the Nurture Centre. In support of this there is a carefully planned ambitious program of curriculum visits and visiting speakers that enhance our pupil’s exposure to the world around them. Throughout the year we plan to warmly welcome a variety of inspiring guests who offer pupil valuable opportunities to envision the limitless possibilities in life. 

All aspects of the Nurture Centre’s ‘Personal Development’ offer, both curricular or extracurricular are carefully planned and structured to provide maximum opportunity for pupils to grow and thrive. As an extra enhancement we also embrace and honour diverse cultures, celebrating various festivals, events, and special occasions through ‘Charity Days and Assemblies’. These days and special assemblies are planned across the year to promote opportunities for pupils to develop understanding of ‘Protected Characteristics’ and ‘Fundamental British Values’. 

The leaders of the Nurture Centre are aware of the impact that pupil transport arrangements place on extending the curriculum beyond the school day. As such, and to avoid limiting pupil’s experiences, there is an ongoing timetable of lunchtime and privilege time clubs that promote pupil engagement in an area of their interest whilst providing opportunity to expanding their horizons. 

Social Awareness