Kent and Medway Violence Reduction Unit launch nurturing schools partnership
Fiona Simpson
Thursday, December 3, 2020
Kent and Medway Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has teamed up with a charity to support 10 secondary schools to reduce the number of exclusions and create an inclusive learning environment.
Kent and Medway VRU has announced a new partnership with education inclusion charity nurtureuk to deliver its National Nurturing Schools programme alongside its Nurturing Family Engagement programme across the county.
Combined, the programmes are aimed at creating a holistic approach to nurture in education and at home, so all pupils, parents and school staff can work together to create a culture where young people can thrive and achieve through their education, nurtureuk said.
The partnership is aimed at supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people and their families, reducing exclusions and fostering more positive engagement with schools and learning among young people.
The public health approach to tackling youth violence is based on a similar scheme used in Glasgow.
Maureen McKenna, executive director of education for the City of Glasgow said: “The impact of our nurturing approaches across the city has been transformational in the lives of thousands of our children. It’s my strong belief that the skills and behaviours developed through instilling nurturing principles in schools and nurseries across Glasgow has been a major factor in the massive reduction in school exclusions and youth violence on Glasgow’s streets over the past decade.”
In January this year, nurtureuk was announced as one of three delivery partners with London VRU, working with 30 schools across the city to embed a nurturing approach.
Mark Powell, Kent and Medway Violence Reduction Unit lead, said: “We are really pleased to be working with nurtureuk as they have a record of delivering high quality work in schools that has transformed how young people are understood, and has helped young people to do well. “The aim of the VRU is to commission innovative services that enhance existing good practice, and nurtureuk are providing bespoke approaches that will help schools to find creative ways to engage students, families and staff.
“We hope to build on the work that nurtureuk have done with the London VRU so that the schools we are partnering with can raise the aspirations of students. We believe that this project will help young people to grow, stay safe and to feel confident about their future.”
