A specialist wellbeing and nurture service supporting pupils at Ysgol Hirael in Bangor has been praised following a recent visit by Dwyrain Bangor City & County Councillor Nigel Pickavance.
Councillor Pickavance visited the school’s “Y Nyth” classroom after being invited by trained Trauma Informed Practitioner teachers Mrs Whitehead and Mrs Thomas, who run the service within the school.
The nurture room, known as “Y Nyth” – Welsh for “The Nest” – provides a safe and supportive environment for children who may need emotional reassurance, wellbeing support or help with their mental health.
Councillor Pickavance said the service offers a wide range of interventions in “a caring, non-judgmental and empathetic way”. He said he was impressed by both the atmosphere within the room and the level of support being offered to pupils.
Speaking after the visit, he said:
“It was such a lovely visit, and it was fantastic to hear of the amazing work they do and support they offer the pupils of Ysgol Hirael. I joined them for a cuppa and chatted with the young people who were very welcoming.”
He added:
“It was evident that the service and support was of tremendous benefit to the young people.”
Mrs Whitehead and Mrs Thomas explained that both are trained Trauma Informed Practitioners and that the room acts as a safe haven for children when needed.
Trauma-informed practice in schools is designed to better support children who may have experienced adverse childhood experiences, anxiety, emotional distress or other challenges affecting wellbeing and learning. The approach focuses on building trust, emotional safety, consistency and positive relationships within education settings.
He also highlighted the role of external funding in helping the service provide additional support and experiences for pupils.
The school has received support from Watkin Property Ventures, which helps fund experiences for pupils as well as in-house breakfasts and snacks.
Thanking staff and pupils for the warm welcome, Councillor Pickavance said he hoped similar approaches could be adopted more widely.
“Services like this should be recognised and their informal approach copied by all schools in Gwynedd.”
Nurture and wellbeing spaces such as Y Nyth have become increasingly common in schools across Wales in recent years, particularly as education providers place greater emphasis on emotional wellbeing, trauma awareness and early intervention support for young people.
