A case study linking Emotion Works with Nurture principles to establish a Nurture Class in a mainstream primary.

Nurture Room staff from Currie Primary attended Introductory Emotion Works Open training. They combined the Emotion Works approach with Nurture Principles and Framework to plan and deliver education and support within a small Nurture Class Setting.

Connect Profiling:

Although staff had previously worked with all children attending the Nurture Room, they felt it important that the children and staff get to know each other in the new setting, leaving prior knowledge aside to build connection and confidence. Staff used the Emotion Works Profiling Tools to plan for and gather information on individual pupils. They focused on likes and dislikes and planned a series of short and varied activities to encourage and support this discussion. (These lessons are recorded and evaluated in more detail in a case study on Using Emotion Works’ Profiling Tools in a Nurture Class Setting.) Staff and children participated alongside each other in all “connect” activities. Older children were invited to complete the Profiling documents themselves but, despite being interested, they found it quite a laborious task so, staff decided to record information in the Profiling Tools on their behalf. Staff used the Profiles as “working documents”, recording and sharing them openly with the children, welcoming their contributions.

Routine:

Staff used Emotion Works concepts to plan the core routine of the Nurture Classroom. Each session, they aimed to cover most, if not all, of the first 5 Cog Concepts, building the emotional vocabulary of each one through these routine activities.

Emotion Check in on arrival, using emotion words to describe individual feelings and triggers to explain why, where possible. Staff joined in to model this. Visual supports were used to aid discussion.

Teaching activities focused on Emotion Word learning through teacher led tasks and linking emotion words and behaviours.

Snack preparation and discussion centred around the language required for body sensations (e.g. body parts, feeling hungry/full, tastes).

Nurture sessions came to a close with story and meditation, with sensory props and massagers.

The staff also included free play and 1:1 time with each child where possible, to continue to build connection and knowledge of each pupil in their care (recorded in Connect Profiles).

To read this Case Study in more detail, click on the link above.