TCES Nurture Primary – Transforming Lives of Primary School Learners

TCES Nurture Primary is a specialist site of the TCES East London Independent Special school and a Department for Education registered school, offering a vital therapeutic learning environment for children aged 7-13. Each class only takes up to 6 pupils and each pupil is supported by a Therapeutic Education Practitioner (TEP).

Working with some of the most complex young children, Nurture Primary is a lifeline for pupils who have spent considerable time outside of education, having experienced multiple exclusions. With our decades of experience, TCES understand how exclusion reinforces a cycle of rejection and failure and have seen first-hand how their ‘no-exclusion’ approach doesn’t simply ‘just work’, it changes lives.

Despite the unique challenges each child has when they arrive at the school, TCES Nurture Primary is experiencing continued pupil success and growth. This is in part, down to their unique track record for zero-exclusions as well as their Integrated Services Teams of educators, social workers, family support workers and therapists. Working together, they deliver integrated therapeutic education which is underpinned by TCES’ partnership with Nurture International and their vital six nurture principles for learning.

As the mainstream UK education system faces a growing crisis, with neurodiverse children affected disproportionately, the rate of primary pupil exclusions continues to soar. 2022/23 (last official records) saw 84,300 suspensions in primary schools, double the number that there were 10 years ago, with the rate of permanent exclusions increasing by almost 70% in the same time frame.

The Autumn 2024 comparable data from the Department for Education indicates an exponential rise in primary school exclusions even beyond the 2022/23 figures.

Focused on creating an environment where every child, regardless of their past behaviour or challenges, can not only succeed, but thrive, TCES have chosen inclusion over exclusion.

Our CEO Thomas Keaney explains “We have seen the long-lasting damage exclusions can cause, reinforcing an individual’s belief that they are ‘not good enough’ and it is heartbreaking to hear how the number of primary school pupil exclusions is escalating, and it only cements our commitment to ‘Never give up. Never exclude’.”

“Our inclusive TCES approach has proved that with the right care and encouragement, every child can reach their potential. We have watched how young people who were once deemed "unteachable" go on to achieve incredible things, evolving fully from social isolation to independence.”

One such pupil is Charlie. Before joining TCES Nurture Primary, Charlie had six separate fixed-term exclusions, and his attendance was at a worrying 50% or severely absent in line with new Government guidance on absence. Charlie had suicidal thoughts and came to TCES with social, emotional and mental health needs. His attendance has now risen to over 98%. Charlie is fully engaged in his lessons, and he has begun to control his behaviour, which means he can now follow instructions from his teacher. He particularly enjoys English and has expressed interest in becoming an author.

Charlie’s teacher Miss Claris said “Charlie has come a long way. When he first started, he would often walk out of the class and be unable to regulate himself appropriately. Charlie no longer leaves the classroom and is observed actively enjoying being a part of the class and engaging in learning.”

With an arguably unsuccessful decade-long ‘culture of exclusions’, TCES Nurture Primary is a glowing example of why it is time to switch from an exclusive approach to an inclusive one. Their ‘zero-exclusions’ philosophy is certainly making waves, proving that with the right approach to education, you can transform the lives of even the most complex children.

For parents wanting to learn more about TCES Nurture Primary we are hosting a Virtual Open Event on January 23, 2025, at 11 am and an In-Person Open Event on February 5, 2025, at 4pm.

Click the links below to book a place at our upcoming open events.

TCES Nurture Primary – Virtual Open Event, Thursday 23^rd January at 11:00 AM

TCES Nurture Primary – In-Person Open Event, Wednesday 3^rd February at 4:00 PM