Thrive at Hawbush Primary School

We have been working hard at creating and embedding a whole school approach. This means every child at Hawbush has their social and emotional needs addressed and nurtured whether that be within their class setting, small groups or during 1:1 sessions.

Our Licensed Thrive Practitioners are: Miss Beth Stevens-Wood, Miss Gemma Matthews and Mrs Kerry Harkness. Miss Grace Turner and Mrs Lucy Beard are training this year.

What is the Thrive Approach?
We know that children learn best in school when they are happy and settled. At Hawbush we are using the Thrive Approach to help us develop our pupils’ emotional and social well-being. Thrive helps us to check children’s readiness to learn, to identify any gaps and then plan to meet them. Through doing so, we will be able to make sure that all of our pupils have what they need to make the best possible progress in their learning.

Why are we a Thrive school?

• Positive relationships are at the heart of Thrive. We will use these relationships, together with play and creative activities, to give children key experiences at each different stage of their development.

• Thrive teaches the understanding of children’s behaviour as communication, improves learning skills and leads to greater attainment.

• It promotes productive learning for all children.

• It supports practitioners, providing them with confidence to work with more challenging and vulnerable children, and with parents and integrated teams.

• It leads to better relationships at home and in school.

How do we use Thrive at Hawbush?
Thrive is a way of assessing and supporting children’s emotional and social development, which can then be used to provide personalised programmes for classes, groups and individuals.
All class teachers have used a tool called Thrive-Online to screen their classes. The results will help them to plan their social and emotional curriculum and teaching will be adapted to best meet the needs that are indicated. Strategies and activities are suggested which can be built into lessons and work.

Who is Thrive used for?

All children: Our whole school approach means we use our Thrive knowledge to enable every child to enhance their emotional and social skills and improve their emotional wellbeing. As a class, the children are regularly assessed using the Thrive online system. This allows us to create an age appropriate class action plan.

Small groups and individuals: Thrive is also used for those who may need a little additional support to manage their strong feelings or emotions. These children may be struggling academically or causing concern because of their behaviour.  At the same time sometimes children may lack confidence in their social interactions and may be invited to be part of small group or individual sessions of Thrive. 

When life happens: for those who suddenly experience hurtful, shocking, strange or traumatic life events, such as a bereavement, a parent’s redundancy etc…

When a child is identified as potentially needing some additional support with their social and emotional needs, they will have an individual assessment carried out and an individual action plan created. This means any adult working with the child will be aware of any triggers the child has, how the child will communicate this with others and the appropriate strategies to use to help them.

The whole school approach was implemented and is currently led by our Thrive Leader:
Miss Rebecca Savoy

You can find more information at: www.thethriveapproach.com