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Term Dates for all schools until July 2013
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Dates when Year 6 pupils will sit the papers during 2011/12
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Find out which catchment school your child will go to
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Secondary/Post 16/All-age Schools
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Your guide to Higher Education funding
Nurture Groups
Most children start school with confidence and enthusiasm but a few do not.
A Nurture Group is a small specialist class that provides a safe and predictable structured environment in which children are given opportunities to revisit early 'nurturing' experiences. The teacher and teaching assistant model positive relationships and there is an emphasis on the development of language and communication skills.
The rationale is that these children, for a variety of reasons, may have missed out on the early experiences that promote good development and so may be at risk of failing when they start school. They may not have learned to build trusting relationships with adults or to relate appropriately to other children.
Most children who attend a Nurture Group are ready after three or four school terms to return full-time to their class. The children always keep daily contact with their class even when attending the Nurture Group.
There are currently three Nurture Groups set up within schools in Guernsey - a pre-school group at Amherst Primary and two reception groups at St Martin's Primary and The Link Centre.
The classrooms used are organised to emulate the home environment. They are comfortable and welcoming with a kitchen/dining area/sitting room together with play and work areas.
The structure of the day includes greeting each other, eating breakfast together, sharing news as well as more formal learning situations.
Nurture Groups can help children become ready for school and enable them to cope in the mainstream classroom. They get to know staff and become familiar with the school buildings and it can help the school identify any special educational needs at an early stage and form positive partnerships with parents.
