What is Thrive?

Thrive is a therapeutic and multi-sensory approach to help support children with their emotional and social development.

The Thrive approach offers practical strategies and techniques and is built around online assessments which identify children’s emotional development and provides action plans for their individual needs.

Research has shown that how we behave is linked to how we feel and our emotions are linked to how we learn. By teaching children to recognise and notice these feelings and emotions it can help with their development and learning.

Children sometimes need some extra support with their emotional growth and this can be temporary or over a longer period of time.

Thrive promotes their emotional and social growth by building positive relationships between a child, their peers and adults. This helps them explore and understand their feelings through various activities but essentially provides valuable time to talk, listen and be heard.

We all know, children learn best when they are happy and settled.

Who is the Thrive Practitioner?

Mrs. Helen Organ is our Thrive Practitioner. She qualified in January 2021 and works with the children across the school. She also has NNEB (Nursery Nurse Diploma) and CPCAB L2 Certificate in Counselling Skills and is our Mental Health First Aider.

In addition to this role she is our Safeguarding Lead, our DSL.

Why might my child need Thrive?

Many children experience difficulties during their time at school. At Broadway First School we pride ourselves on recognising those in need in a timely manner and put strategies in place to support the children.

These may include:

• Difficulties with friendships.
• Getting into trouble at playtime.
• Finding it hard to settle in the classroom.
• Finding it difficult to manage their strong/big feelings.
• Not knowing who to turn to when feelings are too big to manage on their own.
• Perhaps there has been a trauma and the child just simply needs time to be calm and talk and be listened to.
• It can be used as a time to talk about a change in their lives.

These situations can lead to many different feelings which may seem overwhelming at times. They might include: anger, frustration, sadness, loneliness, confusion or anxiety. 

All these feelings are very normal and happen to a lot of children. The Thrive sessions are to help children learn to manage their feelings and teach them strategies that will help promote their learning at school.

What will happen in a Thrive session?

The session may be on an individual basis or as part of a small group of children. During each session there will be an activity which may include:

• Circle games
• Arts and crafts
• Sand/foam play
• Movement and mindfulness relaxation
• Cooking and preparing food
• Role play and puppet work
• Games
• Storytelling and songs

These activities all promote safe, healthy relationships with adults and peers.

     
‘I have fun and it makes me feel happy.’ Year 3 boy.

'I had Thrive to help me with my big feelings. I was listened to and we built lego and marble runs!' Year 4 Boy.

'I use the postbox and I share my feelings with Mrs. Organ. We talk about how to solve things and that it is ok to feel worried at times.' Year 4 girl. 

Where will my child go to have a Thrive session?

We are really lucky to have a pastoral room that is used for Thrive, interventions and informal meetings with parents when necessary.