4. Universal Approaches (for all pupils)

4c. Creating a welcoming and nurturing environment

Creating a nurturing school environment is central to supporting positive behaviour, emotional wellbeing and academic achievement. According to Nurture UK²⁶, the nurturing approach has the greatest impact when it is not treated as a standalone intervention but instead ‘reaches everyone in a setting’ and becomes integral to the school’s culture and daily practice. They emphasise that ‘the nurturing approach considers how a child’s social environment affects their emotional wellbeing, their social skills and how ready they are to engage at school and in the wider community.’

Effective nurturing approaches share common features, including:

• structured routines that provide pupils with predictability and reduce anxiety
• staff trained to respond with curiosity and care, seeing behaviour as communication
• emphasis on relationships, creating a sense of belonging and connection throughout the school
• flexible and personalised support within clear boundaries, recognising each pupil’s unique emotional and developmental needs.

This approach aligns closely with evidence from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), which highlights that ‘consistency and coherence at a whole-school level are paramount’ and that schools should focus on ‘developing good relationships,’ as these are foundational in reducing behavioural issues and improving overall pupil outcomes²⁷. The EEF further states that effective schools adopt strategies such as ‘knowing individual pupils well,’ understanding the context of their behaviour and ‘ensuring pupils feel valued and supported, meaning they are less likely to misbehave.’²⁴

By integrating these principles into daily practice, schools can create an environment where all pupils, particularly those with additional emotional or behavioural needs, are supported to build resilience and thrive. As Nurture UK summarises, the nurturing approach helps pupils ‘develop the social skills they need to thrive, and the confidence and resilience to deal with whatever life throws at them - at school, and for the rest of their lives’²³

Useful links:

• EEF: Improving behaviour in schools Guidance report with evidence-based recommendations to help schools promote positive behaviour and a supportive culture.
• Nurture UK: Whole-School Approach to Nurture Information and resources on embedding nurture principles across the whole school.
• Falkirk Educational Psychology Service: Nurturing approaches Practical guide to help schools build positive relationships and create supportive, nurturing environments for pupils.
• Council for Learning Outside the Classroom: Learning Outside the Classroom Charity supporting schools to embed high-quality outdoor and experiential learning through resources, guidance and accreditation.

 _{^{26. NurtureUK (n.d.). NurtureUK. Available at: https://www.nurtureuk.org/
 27. Education Endowment Foundation (2019). Improving behaviour in schools. Available from: https://d2tic4wvo1iusb.cloudfront.net/production/eef-guidance-reports/behaviour/EEF_Improving_behaviour_in_schools_Report.pdf}}