“So we probably have to start off with our values” 

says Fiona Dunlop, Head Teacher of Beith Primary School in North Ayrshire, 

“it’s a rights based, values based system that we run here which is integral to everything that we do.”

Beith Primary School learners

“We run a nurture group and we have a care experienced group as well alongside a nurture breakfast club for identified pupils. Because we know our children and families really well, we would speak with the parents and say, ‘if it’s going to help you be able to be available to work or whatever you need to do then let’s get them into the breakfast club in the morning’. So they’ll bring them up around 8.20am and they come in and have their breakfast and this helps them settle into school and be ready to learn.”

Fiona and her staff are seeing the impact this focus on nurture has had:

“Well up until the pandemic there were consistently high levels of attainment and achievement for our children. Much higher than North Ayrshire averages. So, in general, our children were ready to learn and were more able to engage with the opportunities on offer to them.”