Becky Pollack, One World Nursery’s manager

As schools across the country prepared to close their doors in response to the Corona virus, Sanctuary on Sea made sure that a Brighton nursery had something to smile about. Today they hand delivered a School of Sanctuary Award to One World Nursery, in recognition of its efforts to make refugee children and their families feel included and welcome.

Writing in a blog, One World’s Deputy Manager, Sarah Ottewell describes how social events provided the opportunity, not only for families to come together, but also for staff to open up conversations about community and sanctuary, and what these terms meant to them: “By reflecting on how we offered family social events, including how they nurtured a feeling of belonging and welcome, their format took on a new lease of life. What had previously been quite formal events became rich, fun filled open afternoons with families playing alongside their children and each other.”

Richard Williams, Sanctuary on Sea’s Chair, said, “We loved One World’s approach to the Award. All staff were involved and saw themselves on a journey with families, exploring ways in which the nursery could do more to create a sense of welcome, belonging and sanctuary for all.  We are immensely proud of all of Brighton and Hove’s schools of sanctuary, which do so much to make sanctuary seekers feel at home in our city and create a culture where everyone feels that they belong.”

One World is the second Nursery of Sanctuary in Brighton & Hove and this was the 26th School of Sanctuary award made by Sanctuary on Sea. Case studies of all award winners can be downloaded from the Schools of Sanctuary page on the Brighton & Hove Education & Enterprise Marketplace (BEEM).