The National Nurturing Schools Award (NNSA)
Our prestigious award for schools that have completed the National Nurturing Schools Programme (NNSP) and created a nurturing culture for children and young people.
What does the award mean?
The award means that your school has been assessed against a set of standards for a nurturing school, covering three main areas: Stakeholders, Delivery, and Leadership & Management, and is a model of high-quality nurturing practice.
To check that you're meeting the standards, we'll gather evidence through interviews and observation, as well as reviewing the evidence you've submitted.
What are the benefits?
The award shows that your school has successfully embedded a nurturing culture that responds to the social, emotional and mental health needs of your pupils.
It helps you to demonstrate your achievements in nurturing children and young people to parents, governors, school inspectors and your community.
Children and young people benefit: from an approach that places their strengths and needs at the heart of practice, allowing them to flourish and be the best they can be.
Parents and caregivers benefit: from being involved and welcomed in the school, in seeing the improvement children and young peoples learning, behaviour, confidence and attendance.
Staff benefit: from a renewed focus on their pupils and a culture of change where every voice counts.
Schools benefit:from showing their commitment to developing an ethos and culture that is inclusive and supports everyone associated with the school.
Communities benefit: from having a school that wants to be at the heart of the community and demonstrates its central role in children and young people’s lives.
Applying for the award
Are You Ready to Apply for the National Nurturing Schools Award?
If you've recently completed the National Nurturing Schools Programme, you can apply for the award.
As long as you're in your assessment window, your assessment is covered as part of the programme.
Once you've let us know that you want to apply, we'll arrange your assessment and take you through the next steps.
If your assessment is successful, you'll receive your certificate, award plaque, which will be valid for three years. To keep your accreditation after this time, you'll need to reaccredit.
Renewing your National Nurturing Schools Award
If your school has the National Nurturing Schools Award, you'll need to update your award after three years to keep the accreditation.
You can do this by either:
- Joining our discounted reaccreditation programme. You'll get a discounted Boxall Profile®Online subscription and we'll get in touch to book your reassessment at no extra cost
- Applying directly for your reassessment towards the end of your three years
Your reassessment will include online assessment and evidence review and moderation. If you're successful, you'll receive an updated certificate, and the right to keep using the accreditation for another three years.