The connections children have with the adults around them are key to their social and emotional development. The Thrive approach focuses on providing positive experiences and building trusting relationships between them. Talbot House has used the Thrive approach since 2017. We currently have two highly trained thrive practitioners with years of experience, who provide one to one interventions to pupils on a daily bases. During these interventions pupils learn to express their emotions and regulate through arts, play and other often practical activities. The Thrive Approach highlights the importance of being safe, feeling special and having our needs met which are key to a child’s sense of wellbeing. Through repeated experience of positive connections pupils develop confidence, good stress management and reduce inappropriate or unsafe behaviour.

To effectively use the thrive approach, our pupils are regularly assessed based on their emotional development by our thrive practitioners. Based on the outcome they are given appropriate targets, each pupil is given personalised strategies to help them reach their targets. We allow pupils who have just joined us some time to settle into their new environment before we assess them, so their targets are more appropriate.

Our Thrive team deliver training half termly to all teaching staff to help them best support the pupils emotional needs. All new staff are given an introduction to thrive in their first week of employment so they know why it is used, and how it benefits pupils.

If you would like to read more about the Thrive Approach, visit www.thriveapproach.co.uk