The Home Room
A Nurture Unit located in Room A111
Located in Room A111, the new Foyle College nurture unit is known simply as The Home Room. We aim to link this additional needs facility to the secure relaxing, calming connotations of “home,” along with the emotional acceptance of still being a valued part of the Foyle Family, in a classroom setting.
Working in close conjunction with the Learning Support management team and teachers, we aim to support our students when they need it most.
A Space to Reset: The "Cosy Corner"
The room features brightly presented, age-appropriate motivational posters, homely decoration, and relaxing essential oil lighting. A welcome feature of the facility is the “Cosy Corner.”
This is a screened-off, quiet, soft, relaxed space with weighted blankets, a lava lamp and soft settees. It is designed for pupils who may need to privately self-regulate and self-comfort when experiencing stress, requiring a little space and time out from their normal working day.
Regular Home Room students have their own work space for continuity and access to laptops when needed. They also have a dedicated Classroom Assistant. The Home Room CA ensures the space is tightly managed with agreed rules for pupils accessing it to complete classwork. Every lesson completed there is logged with feedback to relevant school staff.
Our Intentions
A safe, supportive environment helping pupils reach their full potential
Supporting Wellbeing
- › Offer a safe haven for pupils experiencing anxiety or emotional distress.
- › Provide a non-judgemental space to help pupils settle back into routine.
- › Encourage resilience and a positive outlook.
Attendance & Engagement
- › Support pupils to remain in school, even on difficult days.
- › Break down barriers preventing school-refusing pupils from learning.
- › Provide supervision for SEN pupils with a reduced timetable.
Building Coping Skills
- › Give pupils space to talk, reflect, and move forward.
- › Refer to Learning Mentor programmes to develop coping strategies.
- › Work together with pupils to find practical solutions to problems.
Sense of Belonging
- › Ensure pupils feel listened to, cared for, and valued.
- › Inspire motivation by providing a calm, structured environment.
- › Provide a “quiet harbour” while encouraging independence.
Implementation
Pupils will be referred to and pre-approved for The Home Room. They will complete their classwork with the Home Room CA in a strictly maintained, quiet academic setting. Access will be timetabled during Private Study periods or when specific classwork needs completed.