Pastoral Support in School

Emotional Literacy Support

The Thrive Approach:

The Thrive Approach is a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing. We recognise there are challenges in supporting pupils whose learning is affected by emotional difficulties. The Thrive Approach comprises of carefully targeted, emotional interventions, which are carried out following either a referral process or the whole class assessments. As a school we are committed to working together to ensure the inclusion, achievement and well-being of all pupils. We have staff trained in providing small groups and 1:1 emotional support to help children to deal with difficult emotions.

We provide 1:1 sessions with a trained Thrive practitioner so children can develop ways to cope with a family split or a bereavement, manage anger or to develop social skills enabling them to make friends more easily.

We also provide each class with a Thrive Action Plan based on each individual class’s ThriveOnline assessment. Activities to support the children’s social and emotional development are specifically designed for each class depending on the targets identified within the assessment process.

Whatever the concern, it's our aim to make sure the children here feel safe and happy and ready to learn.

Our school’s Thrive practitioner is Mrs Goldsack

What is Emotional Literacy?

● Understanding and coping with the feelings about ourselves and others.
● Developing high self esteem & positive interactions with others.
● Being emotionally literate helps children focus better on their learning.

Thrive sessions help children in school who have faced or are facing life challenges that detract from their ability to engage with learning, and some will require greater support to increase their emotional literacy than others. It recognises that children need to have their emotional needs met to help them make the best progress throughout their educational journey.

The majority of Thrive work is delivered on a small group basis, but sometimes 121 sessions will be more appropriate due to the level of trauma a child has experienced.  Sessions are fun, using a range of activities such as; games, role play with puppets or arts and craft.  Each session lasts for approx. 20-30 minutes, after 6 weeks the child's progress will be reviewed by talking to the class teacher and a ThriveOnline assessment.

Using the Thrive Approach, we aim to provide support for a wide range of emotional needs:

• Recognising emotions
• Regulating emotions
• Self-esteem
• Social Skills
• Friendship skills
• Loss and bereavement

If difficulties are primarily home-based, a Family Thrive course, which can be run by Mrs Goldsack, may be more appropriate. Please contact the office if you would like to be placed on the waiting list.