Nurture

Nurture at The Gryphon School

Our Nurture provision gives pupils with additional needs a safe, predictable and highly supportive place to learn so they can thrive academically, socially and emotionally. Aligned with our church school vision of “life in all its fullness”, Nurture sits within our inclusive whole-school strategy and focuses especially on early reading and communication so pupils can access a broad curriculum. It is a curriculum-integrated intervention to support those with additional needs.

Who Nurture is for:

Nurture is intended for pupils whose needs make full-time mainstream lessons difficult without additional, specialist support. Typical needs include:

• Literacy-based cognition and learning needs that require small‑group specialist teaching
• Social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs
• Communication and interaction needs (including speech, language and social communication)
• Other barriers that benefit from a bespoke, curriculum‑integrated approach

Nurture is part of our wider SEND offer; around 10% of pupils at The Gryphon have SEND and this provision sits alongside targeted in-class adaptations and other specialist support.

What Nurture looks like at The Gryphon in Key Stage 3:

• Small classes (usually capped at 13 pupils) in a calm, communication-friendly classroom with clear visual routines and structure for some lessons
• Curriculum-integrated intervention: pupils follow a mainstream Key Stage 3 curriculum but with additional specialist teaching in literacy, communication and wellbeing. English, History and Geography are taught by Nurture-trained teachers; pupils also access RE, Music, Art, French and Computing in small groups.
• Focused reading support: dedicated literacy lessons and integrated reading interventions
• High-quality adaptive teaching: teachers provide scaffolded tasks, assistive technology where appropriate, and regular formative checks.
• Embedded Speech and Language teaching techniques and dedicated Speech and Language lessons
• Pastoral and therapeutic input: learning mentors and our pastoral team work alongside teachers to develop self‑regulation, resilience and social skills, including work with the Adventurous Training team.
• Learning Support Plans: every pupil has a written plan which sets short-term targets, classroom strategies and agreed success measures.

What Nurture looks like at Key Stage 4:

• Small teaching groups (capped significantly below mainstream sizes) with extra timetabled lessons to support chunked, small-step learning.
• Reduced, carefully chosen GCSE programme plus vocational accreditation (King’s Trust award).
• Learning Support Plans: every pupil has a written plan which sets short-term targets, classroom strategies and agreed success measures.
• Ongoing careers and post‑16 transition support to secure meaningful destinations.

What parents can expect

• Early identification and a joined‑up plan with parents, teachers and external specialists.
• Regular review:  reading, spelling, attendance, wellbeing and curriculum outcomes.
• Clear transition pathways: we plan reintegration into mainstream lessons as pupils are ready.

How to find out more

Speak to your child’s Head of Year or contact our SENDCo, via the main school office or email the school office for an initial conversation.

Reading Intervention:

Abseiling during an Adventurous Training Session:

Reading for pleasure: