Nurturing learning for pupils to break out of poverty cycle

The Little Stream nurture house at River Primary Academy will provide a caring, safe environment featuring play items from home.

Opening tomorrow, it will offer smaller classes and more dedicated help to those students that are behind.

Headteacher Jane King said: "I can't wait to see all of the children and parents getting involved.

"78 per cent of our pupils receive pupil premium funding.

"We all drive towards breaking out of the poverty cycle, and the only way you can do that is through education. We strive for our kids to be ready to attack that secondary curriculum."

Eight three to five-year-olds and eight five to six-year-olds will be given the opportunity to learn at their own pace in the converted house, which was funded and built with local businesses.

Youngsters will be regularly assessed and, when they're ready for it, will be moved back to mainstream classes.

Ms King said: "It's a place where children are in a caring, safe, stimulating environment that will give them experiences that they're not use to at home.

"They're our very youngest children who are finding the transition to school life difficult.

"They might have limited experience, they might not be used to sharing, so we provide a very nurturing environment where they can learn those skills.

"The curriculum will be mirrored - it will be the same as in the other classes so that they can cover the same learning. It's more of a caring provision for them."

The new building was converted from an old caretaker's house on the grounds.

Getting the scheme set up took help from local businesses, as well as a £10,000 Awards for All grant and £2,500 from Bloxwich Community Chest.

Making sure the building was suitable for its new purpose took labour and donations from Community Payback, Keepmoat and WHG.

The top floor will be leased to agencies that find getting in touch with parents difficult, including behaviour and school support and Sure Start.