​​Applying nurturing approaches can be used to complement self-evaluation through How Good is Our School 4 (HGIOS4) and How Good is our Early Learning and Childcare (HGIOELC).

It looks at school improvement through a nurturing lens and includes features of highly effective practice and challenge questions that would support schools and early learning and childcare (ELC) settings when they are implementing a nurturing approach. It provides tools to support learning conversations, learning rounds, peer support and personal development plan structures for staff.

It provides:

• links to the Scottish drivers and policy context.
• a definition of nurturing approaches.
• a guide to the self-evaluation process and a framework that links nurturing approaches to the quality indicators used in HGiOS4 and HGiOELC
• links between the quality indicators and the nurturing principles so that schools can link their self-evaluation with these principles

It also provides a range of practical tools that can be used to triangulate self-evaluation information and support the implementation of nurturing approaches, along with focus group prompts, a questionnaire for staff and parents, and readiness checklists.

How to use this self-evaluation approach

The tools, which are provided as appendices, have a range of purposes including supporting the triangulation of self-evaluation evidence.

They also support schools to explore how a nurturing approach is being applied in the classroom/playroom and wider environment; how staff can attune to children and young people; and the extent of staff knowledge and attitudes to a nurturing approach.

The tools will help schools to examine their own readiness to implement a nurturing approach and provide a means of exploring the views of children, young people and parents and carers regarding a nurturing approach.

Questions for schools and ELC settings

1. To what extent are we able to demonstrate a nurturing approach in our setting and how well do Senior Leadership Teams support this?

2. How well have we embedded nurturing approaches in our school/ELC setting and are able to demonstrate this in classroom practice and within the school /ELC environment?

3. How well do staff understand the nurturing principles and apply these in their daily practice and interactions with children and young people and the wider school community?

Further resources

Supporting inclusive transitions (PDF)

Whole-school readiness checklist (PDF)

 Individual readiness checklist (PDF)

 Attunement profile (PDF)

Observation profile - The classroom (PDF)

Observation profile - The playroom (PDF)

Observation profile - The school environment (PDF)

Teacher and early years practitioner staff questionnaire (PDF)

non-teaching staff and support staff questionnaire (PDF)

Children and young people focus group discussion prompts (PDF)

Children in ELC settings focus group discussion prompts (PDF)

Parent/carer questionnaire (PDF)