A FUNDRAISING campaign to transform a disused classroom at a Barnard Castle primary school into a welcoming nurture room has been given a £1,000 boost.
Green Lane Primary School launched a campaign last December to raise £5,000 to create a dedicated nurture hub to help build confidence and self-esteem in pupils, who have special educational needs.
Headteacher Rob Goffee said: “Since the pandemic we have seen the number of children with special educational needs attached to social and emotional needs more than double.
“Children have anxieties from social media and from the traumatic experiences that they went through during covid lockdowns.
“As a school we recognise that there is an incredible amount of need amongst our young people and we want to make a difference,” he added.
“We are looking to create a nurture hub provision at Green Lane and want to become a centre for nurture provision, a place where children who have struggled in other schools can come for a fresh start and where they will be loved and cared for.”
Four staff members have completed specialist training to become nurture practitioners, but the nurture hub will have specific areas within it that will help develop children’s sensory learning as well as cater to their social and emotional mental health.
To raise funds for the initial set up, the school launched a fundraising campaign asking parents and friends of the school for donations to help purchase equipment needed.
Nic Linsley, assistant headteacher who is jointly leading the project with enhanced teaching practitioner Claire Walker, said: “At the moment the room is an empty shell and it needs to be changed from a classroom to a homely space with a kitchen, sensory area and a place where children can be calm and thoughtful.”
Their campaign was given a big boost with a donation from Marwood Parish Council when chairman Cllr Adrian Mairs handed over a cheque for £1,000 towards the cost.
Mr Goffee added: “The benefits of the nurture hub will be felt by generations of pupils to come, in this school and hopefully beyond.” Anyone who would like more information about the nurture hub project or to make a donation should email DGLadmin@greenlanecofe. org.uk.
