A HUB that will help pupils to develop social and emotional skills is now open at a Weston primary school.

This autumn, Mead Vale Primary School have opened a brand-new nurture hub, The Cottage.

A nurture hub is a tried and tested way of relating to children that helps them develop vital social skills, confidence and self-esteem, and become ready to learn.

The nurturing approach to education offers a range of opportunities for children and young people to engage with missing early nurturing experiences, giving them the social and emotional skills to do well at school and with peers, and to develop their resilience and self-confidence.

It encourages pupils to take pride in achieving - addressing the social and emotional needs that can hamper learning.

(Image: Mead Vale School)

A spokesperson said: “The Cottage provides a nurturing environment where children can develop essential skills and overcome barriers to learning whilst feeling emotionally safe.

"It provides space for up to 8 children aged 4 to 11 and offers a bespoke learning curriculum based on the six principles of nurture.

• We learn to grow together

• Our classrooms are always safe spaces

• We listen and support each other

• We have words to communicate our feelings and ideas • Our behaviour tells our story

• We talk and prepare for change in our lives

“At Mead Vale, play and learning go hand-in-hand and children and staff have fully embraced OPAL Play (outdoor play and learning) to create more teaching time, improve behaviour and attendance, develop faster core skills development, support inclusion and improve happiness and wellbeing.”

The Cottage is the latest addition to the academy-trusts growing portfolio of SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) bases which includes:

• The Cove, (Autistic hub) at Mendip Green Primary School

• Hearing and Language Resource Base (HLRB) at Mendip Green Primary School

• The Nest Nurture Hub at Bournville Primary School

• The Den (autism resource base) at Milton Park Primary School

• Treetops Resource Hub (Moderate Learning Difficulty MLD) at Locking Primary School.

Extend Learning Academies Network is a group of North Somerset primary schools and nursery/preschools situated at Banwell, Bournville, Locking, Oldmixon, Mead Vale, Mendip Green, Milton Park, Walliscote and Windwhistle.