Year 7 Literacy and Numeracy Premium

Funding 2019-20

FBEC is in receipt of £13,642 of additional funding for the academic year 2019-20"

The Group

The Nurture Group was established in September 2013 for students with special educational needs, low ability or who have been identified by primary schools who may need a little more help. These students could find the transition to secondary school very difficult to deal with, which in turn, could hinder their achievement in Year 7 as they deal with the new challenges and emotional difficulties this brings.

Changes such as finding their way around the school, getting to know a lot of different teachers, moving classrooms every hour can be difficult for some students. Therefore, it was felt that by having a Nurture Group, where a majority of the lessons are taught by the same teacher (who is a former primary school teacher) in the same classroom, would help the children settle into secondary school more quickly. It would allow them to build a good relationship with the teacher and therefore feel supported and nurtured in school.

The Nurture Group provides a safe and structured environment, providing students with the opportunity to develop emotionally and socially, and builds on students’ strengths and interests in order to encourage a sense of achievement and success.

Aims

The Nurture Group aims to:

• Accelerate student progress and allow them to catch up with their peers

• Enable students to feel safe and secure within their environment

• Raise self-esteem and develop social skills and a positive attitude

• Develop strengths and interests, promoting a sense of achievement and success

• Offer a safe base

• Build positive relationships

Individual Support Packages

As part of the nurture group we offer bespoke support packages which include:

• Handwriting

• Literacy and numeracy intervention

• Behaviour support

• Confidence and self-esteem intervention (LEAP Group)

• 1:1 mentoring

• Peer mentoring

Impact of Investment 2019 /20

Despite the challenges in this academic year, the investment in the Nurture Group students continues to have a significant impact on rates of progress and helps students to catch up at a more rapid rate that students nationally.

In 2019/20 students achieved well across the core subjects:

English

• Improved their average English score from an E1 to an E3 with a target of E2+

Maths

• Improved their average Maths score from an E1+ to an E3

Science

• Improved their average Science score from an E1 to an E3

Attendance

Nurture group students enjoy school; their attendance is very good. It is amongst the highest in the school. In 2019-20 the median attendance is typically around 96%, above the whole school figure.

2019 Settling in Student Voice

We are pleased with our views of our new nurture group students where

92% are enjoying school

100% are enjoying the Nurture Group

92% are extremely happy to ask questions or ask for help

“In the first class I was in I was nervous and I did not want to talk. When I moved into the nurture group I became more comfortable and now speak out in class.”

“I hated school and didn’t want to go at first but now I’m so much happier.”

“I used to find school confusing but being in the nurture group has helped a lot. I used to be nervous to go in lessons and now I like lessons because you get a lot of help and support.”

Just three of the nice comments from our students.