Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian. This article has been adapted from a piece written by Sally Weale.
Our programme providing therapeutic support for children who have faced multiple challenges in life – Oasis Nurture – is set to be introduced to five additional Oasis primary schools in the next academic year.
Originally designed by ‘Kids Company’ founder, Camila Batmanghelidjh, who sadly passed away earlier this month, Oasis Nurture is currently in the final phase of its pilot at Oasis Academy Johanna.
How does it work?
Oasis Nurture assumes that children need at least one loving and dependable caregiver in their life to develop emotionally. This means that Oasis Nurture provides every child with a trusted adult who creates an environment where they are able to express their struggles in different ways such as through art, play, and music.
In practice, this means that instead of punishing children who “kick off” in class, Oasis Nurture seeks to help them to “connect to themselves and others and, in this way, to become more resilient whenever something upsets them or makes them anxious” says Oasis Founder, Steve Chalke.
What is the impact?
We are very excited that Oasis Nurture is already showing excellent results. Since the introduction of the programme, Oasis Academy Johanna has seen a 40% increase in key stage 2 Sats results for 10 and 11-year-olds and an increase in reading, writing and maths above the national rate of 59%, at 82%. This means that Oasis Academy Johanna is our highest performing primary academy in this area.
Claire, a parent of a student at Johanna said, “I have to say it genuinely has made an enormous difference to my kids as individuals, but also to the whole feel of the school”.
But this is not just about results. Oasis Nurture is kickstarting a revolution in our schools. It takes a totally unique “child centric, child first approach…that enables children to rebuild trust, often damaged where attachments have been impaired” says Steve Chalke. “It’s the future of education”.