First Federation Trust
The Hive - Social, Emotional and Mental Health Base
Implemented in February 2023, The Hive Learning / Nurture Base, specifically designed to meet the needs of learners with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, has been introduced in our school as a supportive learning environment designed to better meet the needs of individual pupils who require a bespoke timetable of provision in order to be successful. The overarching aim of the base is to increase the amount of time spent in school with full integration into pupils’ home classes.
In our school, these are the aims of our provision:
- Improve engagement and achievement in learning and school as a whole.
- Improve self-esteem and develop a more positive attitude towards school and peers.
- Support learning and well-being.
- Improve specific areas of need identified.
- Improve relationships with others.
- To develop awareness of emotions and self-regulation of emotional responses.
- Develop new skills.
- To recognise the reasons for a child’s behaviour and build strong links between the school, the child and home in order to best support the needs of the whole family.
The Hive base is focused on these key principles of nurture:
- Children’s learning is understood developmentally.
- The environment offers a safe space.
- Nurture is important for the development of self-esteem.
- Language (especially emotional literacy) is understood as a vital means of communication.
- All behaviour is communication.
- Transitions are significant in the lives of children.
In effect, a nurture group is inclusive early intervention and prevention for the development of social, emotional and behavioural difficulties within a mainstream setting. It is also a provision with carefully structured routines providing a balance of learning, teaching, affection and structure within a homelike environment. It is also a group in which children are placed, not due to their limitations with regard to ability but because they may have an identified neuro-specific need, or may have missed out on experiences that promote good development - particularly in the areas of social, emotional, mental health and behavioural skills.
In our nurture base, our aim is every child to enjoy coming to school, learn how to self-regulate, manage their individual behaviour and receive excellent teaching / guidance. We aim to provide provision in The Hive, which caters for SEMH needs (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) and also support with developing crucial life skills.
Pupils may spend part or the majority of their day in the Hive, depending on individual needs. Pupils will join their peers at key points during the day with the ambition of full integration in their allocated classrooms, as we believe that inclusion is important for the success of feeling part of the whole school community.
A key aim is to develop emotional literacy and the ability to be self-regulated and manage areas of SEMH independently. We model, teach and provide a safe environment, based on relational approaches, to learn strategies to promote independence that is transferable to all areas of our pupils’ lives to enable success, achievement and happiness.
Because the Hive environment is designed to promote sensory and social development, other children with identified needs from across the school can also access the provision during timetabled sessions in the week.
The Hive is staffed by a targeted support team, including home class teachers, SEND and Inclusion Lead, Cover Supervisor and Teaching Assistants, who all play a vital role in ensuring a team around the child approach for ensuring the best possible outcomes for children accessing the Learning Base. With this support, the children will benefit from a wide range of skills, knowledge and expertise from across the whole team.
Targeted support team:
- SENDCo - Miss Clare Hosking (currently on maternity leave) Unit leaders are covering SEND within units.
- Cover Supervisor - Mrs Davies
- Learning Support Assistant - Mrs Collings
- Sensory sessions lead - Miss Kinnair
Being part of The Hive, means the children will benefit from a close-knit, pastoral environment, of which we are very proud.
All staff and children develop nurturing relationships based upon our school values to Aspire, Flouring and Achieve, always showing respect and appreciation. We aim to create a warm, safe place where everyone is valued for who they are as an individual. Together, we support all children to enable them to be the best version of themselves, aligning with our school motto ‘Only My Best Is Good Enough; Aspiring and Flourishing Together’.
This aligns with our whole-school relational approach to growing positive relationships for everyone within our school community, where we work together to create a respectful, caring and supportive environment, alongside high expectations of behaviours and attitudes, aligning with our theological underpinning of our School Values and motto:
Hebrews 10:24 ‘Spur one another on toward love and good deeds.’