AN AYR school has won an award and a first of its kind for Scotland.

Dalmilling Pr imary School has been awarded The National Nurturing School Award.

Staff and families at the school were celebrating after being recognised for its nurturing culture that allows members of staff to develop and embed the culture throughout the school. They do this by enhancing teaching, learning, promoting healthy outcomes for children and focusing on the emotional needs of the pupils.

The Nurture programme provided training for two staff from Dalmilling.

There was then a rigorous audit and assessment process where the programme taught the school how to identify where nurture already existed and ways in which they could improve.

Assessors from Nurture UK were impressed by the quality of evidence produced through the audit along with comments from children, parents’ staff and community partners.

Headteacher Gaenor Hardy explained that the award was down to team effort and the school can be proud of what they have achieved.

She said: “We’re proud of our achievement that every member of the school community has contributed to and the impact is children who are motivated, engaged and enthusiastic to participate and reach their potential.

“The purpose for us is having a whole schoolnurturing ethos because we passionately believe that the pr inciples of nurture are not something to be applied to smallgroups of children but a non-negotiable right for every child.”

Cou ncillor Willia m Grant, South AyrshireCouncil’s Portfolio Holder for Lifelong Learning said the award was well deserved: “This award is a fantastic achievement.”