HAPPY
HIVE
Welcome to the Happy Hive
‘Nurture group intervention tailored to suit the needs of your child’
The Happy hive is a ‘Nurture group’ provided at Featherstone Academy.
There are many reasons why your child could benefit from attending the Hive, these reasons may include:
• Attachment (forming appropriate relationships with adults and peers)
• Inability to regulate their own emotions (understanding how they feel)
• Difficulty in making or maintaining friendships
• Low self-esteem and confidence
• Struggling to access the curriculum (find concentrating hard)
• Bereavement or traumatic life events
The Hive promotes self-esteem, confidence and develops social, emotional and mental health skills, whilst nurturing a motivated and positive approach to learning. It is a form of intervention designed to be an extension of the school’s good practice, with the aim of supporting a happier, more confident and able learner back in the classroom environment. Each child’s individuality is embraced whilst ensuring the best social, emotional and academic outcome
The Principles of Nurture
The foundations that underpin The Happy Hive are the 6 Principles of Nurture:
1. Children's learning is understood developmentally
2. The classroom offers a safe base
3. The importance of nurture for the development of wellbeing
4. Language is a vital means of communication
5. All behaviour is communication
6. The importance of transition in children's lives
The Happy Hive runs every Thursday afternoon. Your child will receive one session per week from either 1.10-1.55pm or 2.10-2.55pm, within a group of between six and eight children. Beyond that there is an ethos that children can access the Hive during break and lunchtimes if they wish to speak to staff.
To remain consistent, we use the same members of staff for each session. Mrs Harvey and Miss Hagan run the Hive and have a strong passion for children’s wellbeing and the principles of Nurture groups. Both Staff have worked in school for over 8 years and during that time have worked with most of the children and families in school. They pride themselves on having strong parental links and good relationships with our parents.
What do they learn?
During our sessions the children will take part in:
• Group activities to develop personal and social skills.
• Individual activities and tasks tailored to their current need.
• Activities that promote feelings of well-being and self-esteem.
• Activities that develop a sense of individual responsibility and accountability to others.
• Activities that reflect those taking part in the classroom situation.
• Opportunities to talk to a staff member about anything that they want to discuss, within the Hive.
Every family has a vital role to play in their child’s education and happiness, we welcome and appreciate your involvement and comments on our group. Please feel free to call and ask to speak to Mrs Harvey or Miss Hagan at any time. We also plan to run a coffee afternoon once per term to have the opportunity to speak to parents of children attending the Hive.
“Either we spend time meeting children’s emotional needs by filling their cup with love or we spend time dealing with the behaviours caused from their unmet needs. Either way we spend the time.”