Welcome to Bramble Bank 

'At Bramble Bank, we grow together'

Why the name?

We have chosen the name Bramble Bank for our nurture provision because the bramble plant is known for its resilience. No matter how tough the ground, or how challenging the conditions, brambles find a way to grow and flourish.  In the same way, some children face challenges in their circumstances, emotions, or learning which can make school feel difficult. Our nurture provision gives them the support, care, and stability they need to grow strong—just like the bramble.

Here, children are given a safe space to develop their confidence, build relationships, and strengthen their skills so that they can thrive back in the wider school community. Bramble Bank is a place where we believe every child has the ability to grow, even when the conditions are tough, and where we celebrate their unique strengths and potential.

What is a Nurture UK Provision?

Bramble Bank is delivered through a set of principles from Nurture UK. A Nurture UK provision is a small, supportive group within school designed to help children who may find some aspects of school life more difficult. It is based on the well-established Nurture Principles, which focus on creating a safe, structured, and caring environment where children can build the skills they need to succeed both socially and academically.

In a nurture group, children continue to follow the curriculum, but there is a greater focus on helping them to:

• Build confidence and self-esteem
• Develop social skills such as sharing, listening, and working with others
• Understand and manage their emotions
• Strengthen resilience so they feel more ready to cope with challenges
• Create positive relationships with adults and peers

Nurture provision is not a permanent placement. The aim is to give children additional support in a small group setting for part of the school day or week and then help them return to their mainstream classroom ready to learn and thrive.

At Merton Bank, we believe that every child deserves the chance to flourish. Our nurture provision Bramble Bank is part of this commitment — a safe, supportive space where children are understood, cared for, and encouraged to grow strong, just like the resilient bramble plant that inspired its name.

How does Bramble Bank link to the Curiosity Approach?

Our nurture provision at Merton Bank doesn’t only follow the Nurture UK principles; it is also inspired by the Curiosity Approach. This means we design the environment and experiences so that children feel calm, inspired, and eager to explore and learn.

The Curiosity Approach is about:

• Creating a homely, calm environment with soft furnishings, natural resources, and gentle lighting that feels safe and welcoming.
• Encouraging curiosity and exploration through open-ended resources (not just plastic toys, but real-life objects and natural materials) that spark imagination.
• Building independence and confidence as children make choices, take responsibility, and learn through discovery.
• Supporting creativity and problem-solving so that children develop resilience, resourcefulness, and pride in their achievements.

By combining the Nurture UK principles with the Curiosity Approach, Bramble Bank offers children the best of both worlds: a safe, structured space where they are emotionally supported, alongside an inspiring environment that encourages them to be curious, confident, and creative learners.

Bramble Bank– learning through Curiosity

At Merton Bank, we are proud to offer two specialist provisions that support children who may need something different to help them thrive:

The Curiosity Approach is about creating calm, inspiring environments that spark imagination, creativity, and discovery. It moves away from bright plastic toys and instead uses natural materials, real-life objects, and homely spaces to encourage curiosity, independence, and joy in learning.

By weaving this approach into both Bramble Bank:

• Children feel calm, safe, and valued.
• Spaces are welcoming, homely, and adapted to sensory needs.
• Resources encourage exploration, imagination, and problem-solving.
• Learning is child-led, allowing children to follow their interests and build independence.
• Every child, whatever their need, is given the chance to flourish.

Bramble Bank demonstrates our commitment to inclusion: different spaces, tailored to different needs, alongside out belief that every child can grow, learn, and shine when curiosity is nurtured.

How long do children access Nurture?

Bramble Bank is a short-stay, time-limited nurture provision designed to provide targeted intervention, emotional regulation support, and personalised strategies to enable pupils to be successful within their mainstream class.

Session Structure

• Bramble Bank operates afternoons only, with pupils accessing the provision as part of a planned and timetabled programme of support.
• Mornings are spent within pupils’ mainstream classes to maintain curriculum access, peer relationships and routines.

Duration of Placement

• Bramble Bank placements are not long-term.
• Access is intended to be short-stay (typically 8-12 weeks), dependent on need, with a clear entry assessment, personalised plan, and exit criteria agreed at the outset.
• The provision is designed as a temporary intervention, not an alternative, separate or permanent setting.

Aim and Intended Outcomes

• The overarching aim is to equip pupils with the skills, strategies and confidence required to re-engage successfully in their mainstream class.
• Our priority is always reintegration into full-time class learning with peers, as swiftly and sustainably as possible.
• Progress is monitored regularly to ensure that pupils make gains in attachment, social interaction, regulation and readiness to learn.

What do we work on in Bramble Bank?

 Our nurture provision is guided by the key principles of Nurture UK, ensuring a safe, supportive, and structured environment where every child feels valued and understood. Central to this approach is recognizing the impact of emotional wellbeing on learning and behaviour, fostering positive relationships, and providing consistency and predictability in daily routines.

 While these principles form the foundation of our work, we also ensure that children’s individual interests and passions are actively incorporated into their learning experiences. By integrating activities that reflect what excites and motivates each child—whether it’s art, sports, music, or imaginative play—we create opportunities for engagement, self-expression, and confidence-building. This combination of nurturing structure and personalised interest-led learning helps children to feel both safe and inspired, encouraging positive social, emotional, and academic development.

 Through this approach, children not only benefit from the emotional and relational support central to the Nurture UK principles but also experience learning in ways that are meaningful and enjoyable to them