Our Curriculum

Nurture – Outdoor Learning

Core

Intent

The Core strand of Nurture provision at Elements Academy will allow students to access the core areas of the curriculum in a stage-appropriate manner.

The subject areas covered will be:

Maths
English
Reading
Science

Implementation

As with the academic provision, the Core strand will call upon the building blocks of the Elements Academy curriculum model to guide teachers in the key topics and skills to be covered across the year.

The key to our effective Nurture provision is the flexibility given to Nurture staff to make professional decisions about how to present this Core learning in an engaging and appropriate way for their students. Building blocks will be selected for each particular student to ensure information and activities about presented in such a way as to maximise efficacy and engagement.

Impact

Progression through the building blocks will be recorded and monitored to ensure effective coverage of the Core.

The use of ongoing informal assessment will feed into teacher assessment and online GL assessments to accurately track both academic progress and personal development. The AQA Unit Award Scheme will be used to create a portfolio of evidence, documenting demonstrated knowledge and skills, as well as experiences.

In some cases, those students showing strengths in core subjects will be offered routes into formal nationally-recognised qualifications.

Create

Intent

The Create strand of Nurture provision at Elements Academy will allow students to access the more creative and imaginative aspects of the curriculum in a stage-appropriate manner.

The subject areas covered will be:

Art
Design Technology
Music
Food Tech

Implementation

Specific Nurture blocks have been developed to create effective learning opportunities in these creative subjects.

A focus on creativity, imagination and self-confidence will be present, encouraging students to fully engage with their creative sides without fear of shame or judgement.

This strand also allows for greater levels of personal development, as students are encouraged to produce original and personal pieces, as well as build their confidence in discussing their ideas and inspiration.

Impact

Progression through the building blocks will be recorded and monitored to ensure effective coverage of this Nurture strand.

The use of on-going informal assessment will feed into teacher-assessment to accurately track both academic progress and personal development. The AQA Unit Award Scheme will be used to create a portfolio of evidence, documenting demonstrated knowledge and skills, as well as experiences.

Explore

Intent

The Explore strand of Nurture provision at Elements Academy will allow students to access a variety of areas of the curriculum related to the world and their place in it in a stage-appropriate manner.

The subject areas covered will be:

Humanities
RE
SMSC
PSHE
The environment
Drama

Implementation

In the majority, the Explore strand can be delivered as part of a thematic or topic-based approach. Students will be given the opportunity to engage with a range of subjects and experiences that will give them a greater understanding of our world and its many cultures.

Each topic or theme will weave together elements of the subject areas listed in Intent to produce holistic learning opportunities for those on the Nurture pathway.

Impact

Progression through the building blocks will be recorded and monitored to ensure effective coverage of this Nurture strand.

The use of ongoing informal assessment will feed into teacher assessment to accurately track both academic progress and personal development. The AQA Unit Award Scheme will be used to create a portfolio of evidence, documenting demonstrated knowledge and skills, as well as experiences.

Live Well

Intent

The Live Well strand of Nurture provision at Elements Academy will encourage students to look at how we care for ourselves (physically and emotionally) and those around us, in a stage-appropriate manner.

The subject areas covered will be:

Health and Wellbeing
SRE
Elements House Challenges
Topics of interest
Community engagement
Careers
Adventure
PE

Implementation

Sessions tackling the Live Well strand will focus on students’ personal health and wellbeing, as well as life skills that will improve life chances.

Through physical activities, such as PE and Adventure, students will access developmentally-appropriate exercises (both in- and outdoor), discuss diet and health, along with building body confidence and knowledge.

Across the subject areas of Careers, SRE, Community Engagement and Health and Wellbeing, students will build skills that will support them as they move towards adulthood and the working world.

Impact

Progression through the building blocks will be recorded and monitored to ensure effective coverage of this Nurture strand.

Nurture Outdoor Learning Curriculum Map Download

Six Principles of Nurture+
- Children’s learning is understood developmentally.
- The classroom offers a safe base.
- Nurture is important for the development of self-esteem.
- Language is understood as a vital means of communication.
- All behaviour is communication.
- Transitions are significant in the lives of children.

Children’s learning is understood developmentally

Within the class groups, all staff will respond to pupils not in terms of expectations related to expected attainment levels but in terms of the children’s own developmental progress and needs as assessed through a variety of means, including Boxall Profiles and wellbeing scales.

The response to the individual pupil is based on ‘where they are at’, underpinned by an accepting attitude and an expectation of the highest standards of self-regulated behaviour.

The classroom offers a safe base.

The organisation of the classroom environment and the predictability of classroom management is instrumental in containing and managing the anxiety of pupils. The classrooms will offer a balance of educational and domestic experiences aimed at supporting the development of pupils’ relationships with each other and with staff.

The nurture aspect of the school day will be organised around a structured period with predictable routines; the adults are reliable and consistent in their approach to students, therefore promoting self-regulation.

Nurture is important for the development of self-esteem.

The nurture approach involves listening and responding. An emphasis will be placed on the adults engaging with the pupils in reciprocal shared activities such as mealtimes and ensuring that all pupils feel safe to verbalise their thoughts and feelings. Children respond to being valued and thought about as individuals and this, in turn, leads to the ability to better self-regulate.

Language is understood as a vital means of communication.

Language is more than a skill to be taught or learned: it is an appropriate and widely understood way of putting feelings into words. Students may often act out their feelings as they lack the vocabulary to name or explain how they feel. Within Elements Academy, all class groups will have informal opportunities for talking and sharing through real-life situations, such as eating together.

These opportunities are as important as the more formal lessons in teaching language skills. Words are then used instead of actions to express feelings and frequent opportunities are created for extended conversations or encouraging imaginative play to understand the feelings of not only themselves but of others too. This in turn will enable pupils to better self-regulate and develop empathy for their peers.

All behaviour is communication.

This principle underlies the responses to pupils’ challenging or difficult behaviour. Understanding what a child is communicating through behaviour helps staff to respond in an appropriate, supportive and understanding manner. If the child can sense that their feelings are understood, this can help to defuse difficult situations. The adult is the link between the external and internal worlds of the child. This level of understanding will support the pupils to better self-regulate.

Transitions are significant in the lives of children

The nurture aspects of Elements Academy class groups will support the child to make the often difficult transition from home to school. However, there are numerous transitions the child makes daily; for example, between lessons and class groups and between different adults. Changes in routine are invariably difficult for all pupils to a differing degree and these will be carefully managed with appropriate preparation and levels of support to address the pupil’s ability to self-regulate.