At Bridgelea School we want to help our children, families, and communities to understand themselves and others more. As a Nurture school, we feel that the nurture principles and approaches support us to develop and embed a nurturing culture throughout the school, enhancing teaching and learning. The essential skills complement this nurturing ethos. At Bridgelea we believe that they are important all the way through education, and at all ages and we understand them developmentally. All classes and children have been introduced to the essential skills this year and have accessed the challenge days, adapted assemblies, and projects. Links between the essential skills and the Boxall Profile developmental strands are intuitive and an area to explore further for example 'Giving purposeful attention' (Strand A) underpins the essential skill of Communication. Similarly, 'Participating constructively' (Strand B) links with the essential skills of teamwork and self-belief.