SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT FUNDING MAKING A DIFFERENCE AT GLENROTHES HIGH SCHOOL

Published date : 30 May 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

30th May 2019

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT FUNDING MAKING A DIFFERENCE AT GLENROTHES HIGH SCHOOL

MSP CELEBRATES NURTURE ROOM’S FIRST BIRTHDAY AT LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL

Last week Glenrothes MSP, Jenny Gilruth, paid a visit to Glenrothes High School’s “The Glen” nurture room to celebrate the first anniversary of the new initiative.

“The Glen” is Glenrothes High School’s answer to nurture provision forpupils who have social and emotional issues. Currently, the programme regularly helps 16 pupils – all of which benefit from the nurturing environment. The Glen is a hybrid of a classroom and a home setting and days are organised around the social interaction of learning to make food, as well as learning through other techniques such as play, crafting and outdoor learning.

Commenting after her visit to the nurture room, Jenny Gilruth MSP said:

“I was delighted to visit Glenrothes High School to celebrate the first anniversary of the‘The Glen’.

“All of the pupils I spoke to told me that the Glenwas helping them to cope with anxieties they face in school and pressures they may face at home. The nurture room providespupils with a safe place to discuss their problems and seek solutions whilst learning vital life skills. I was also delighted to hear that ‘The Glen’ has been supported by funding from the Scottish Government’s Pupil Equity Fund.

“The nurture room is run by a fantastic group of very understanding staff who are an asset to both the school and the initiative itself. It is very clear that the children who frequent the programme have a high level of trust and respect for the staff and that is possibly the most important thing for a child with additional needs to have at school. I wish the staff and pupils at Glenrothes High School all the very best in the future with the continued success of this wonderful scheme.”

Sandra Smith, a nurture room and learning support teacher, commented:

“The Glen’s nurturing approach offers an opportunity for children to engage with missing early nurturing experiences, giving them the social and emotional skills to do well in the school and with peers, develop their resilience and their capacity to deal more confidently with life.

“Evidence indicates that most pupils who have attended The Glen have improved attendance, are more resilient, confident and more settled while in school.

“We have achieved this through providing a hybrid of a class room and a home living space, sharing breakfast round the table, playing games and crafting activities also help develop their executive functions. We also take part in outdoor learning giving the pupils positive learning experiences in a variety of settings from visiting Edinburgh Zoo to walking on the beach.

“Hopes for the future are to continue helping out pupils with a nurturing approach and to fundraise to allow us to complete our nurture kitchen as preparing and sharing snacks are the foundations of our nurture groups. Pupils come together to share stories and learn from everyone around the table.”

The Scottish Government’s Pupil Equity Fund is allocated directly to schools and targeted at closing the poverty related attainment gap. Glenrothes High School benefitted by an additional £116,400 for the 2019/20 period, with Fife schools overall in receipt of £9,936,000.

ENDS

Notes –

For more information on pupil equity funding – https://www.gov.scot/publications/pupil-equity-funding-school-allocations-2019-to-2020/

Local Reporters, Glenrothes Gazette, EDUCATION