Views from The Bridge. The story of a Key Stage 3 nurture group

The Bridge Project is a nurture group for Key Stage 3 secondary stage pupils managed by eleven schools in the Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire Learning Community.

Phase 1 ran from 2011 to 2013 with 22 pupils spending periods of time in The Bridge ranging from 12 to 16 weeks. The work is continuing under Phase 2.

A nurture approach was used to support these children who had attachment based social and emotional difficulties which put them at risk of exclusion from their school.

This book relates our experiences at the Bridge Project and the lessons we learned.

It will be of interest to anyone who is involved in inclusion and/or alternative education whether s/he is

• planning something similar
• currently working in alternative provision
• setting out on a career in education and wants to gain a full picture of current trends
• a school leader who wants to re-evaluate provision in their school and/or consider alternatives
• looking from simple curiosity