Thrive Approach at Bosbury

What is Thrive?

Thrive is a therapeutic approach, which is based on neuroscience, attachment theory, child development, and research into the role of creativity and play in developing emotional resilience.

It provides adults with the knowledge and insight of which development stage the brain has been interrupted, as well as strategies and activity ideas to bridge those gaps. This approach has a direct positive impact on children’s future wellbeing, learning and resilience.

Social and emotional development interruptions can occur within the brain from as young as the third trimester! Luckily, the brain has incredible plasticity, which means that through play, the arts, creativity, repetition, and positive relationships, new neuronal pathways can be created where they are needed the most.

Our teaching assistant Mrs. Christopherson is the school's Thrive Co-ordinator, Children's Mental Health Lead and Children's Champion, accompanied by her faithful miniature schnauzer Master Otto, our lovely School Dog and Deputy Thrive-Co-ordinator!

We are also very lucky to have Mrs Christie, TA from Class 1 who is also a Thrive practitioner focusing on the Early Years.

"Children don’t often show their pain through talking. They show us their pain through 'challenging behaviour'. As a culture, we need to move beyond seeing challenging behaviour as 'naughtiness' or a choice, and look at what chlldren are desperately communicating."

- Anon

THRIVE APPROACH AT BOSBURY - PRINTABLE LEAFLET

CHILDREN'S CHAMPION AT BOSBURY

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE THRIVE APPROACH

What are the Benefits to Children?

Being part of an educational setting which has adopted the Thrive Approach, is hugely beneficial to all children. These benefits include:

♥ Promotes positive mental health.

♥ Increased self-esteem and confidence.

♥ Improved emotional wellbeing.

♥ Ability to recognize and verbalise feelings.

♥ Increased perseverance and determination.

♥ To have positive relationships with peers.

♥ To be more resilient.

♥ Increased motivation and willingness to engage.

♥ To be more creative and curious.

♥ Ability to celebrate their achievements and talents.

♥ Increased moral and social responsibility.

♥ Ability to make the right choices.

♥ To self-regulate and be in control of their emotions.

♥ Ability to resolve conflicts and learn from mistakes.

♥ Closes the gap for vulnerable children across a range of measures including attainment, behaviour, relationships, self-confidence and attendance.

What does Thrive look like in School?

Thrive at Bosbury is a whole school approach, which means every child has access to it. Each term the teachers complete a whole class screening at the relevant development stage for their class, which highlights children who are in need of extra support . It also is a great advantage that the staff at Bosbury have such positive connections with the children and their families.

Once the screening has been completed, action plans are created for both in class and for the Rainbow Room, which suggests activity ideas that will support their needs, and strategies for teachers to weave into their termly planning and for all staff to be aware of. This ensures that the Thrive Approach really is embedded across the school.

What is the Rainbow Room?

The Rainbow Room is a small, colourful, homely room within the school. The majority of Thrive sessions are delivered here, and happen every afternoon with small groups of children. The room is also used for other interventions, and is a space for those children who may need immediate support, to talk and explore how they are feeling.

The Thrive sessions include a whole range of art and craft activities, games, mindfulness, creativity, or being outside taking part in a treasure hunt, challenge, or having fun with Otto the school dog.

What are the Benefits of a School Dog?

There are many benefits of having a School Dog. Some of these are listed below:

♥ Teach empathy and appropriate interpersonal skills.

♥ Supporting positive relationships.

♥ Support emotional regulation.

♥ Increased motivation for learning and reading.

♥ Support with social and emotional learning.

♥ Increase confidence.

♥ Improve school attendance.

♥ Giving an extra listening ear.

♥ Helping to clean the hall floor after lunch!

Click on the links below to view some informative documents about child brain development and how best to support children when they are in times of distress or difficulty.

We understand that 2020 onwards has proven extremely challenging and worrying for many children and their families with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the more recent conflict in Ukraine; we are committed at Bosbury to helping and supporting our pupils and their families during these unprecedented times.

ESSENTIAL RELATIONSHIP NEEDS (ERNs) FOR SCHOOL

THE FOUR Rs OF TRAUMA

CHILDREN'S BRAIN DEVELOPMENT FROM THE BOTTOM UP!

BRAINSTEM CALMER ACTIVITIES

HELPING YOUR CHILD WITH ANXIETY - PARENTS' INFORMATION PACK

Please also see below for a range of Thrive activities which children can undertake at home with the aim of fostering good well-being and a positive frame of mind. Thank you to Mrs. Christopherson for providing these lovely ideas.

Click any of these links for Key Stage 1 Thrive activities to try at home:

WEEK 1 WEEK 2 WEEK 3 WEEK 4

Click any of these links for Key Stage 2 Thrive activities to try at home:

WEEK 1 WEEK 2 WEEK 3 WEEK 4

MILK BOTTLE ELMER THE ELEPHANT

HOMEMADE ELDERFLOWER CORDIAL

EMOTION STONES

ROLL-A-PIG GAME

HOMEMADE FLUFFY SLIME

WORRY DOLLS

PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR A WHOLE RANGE OF LINKS TO USEFUL WEBSITES TO HELP SUPPORT ANXIETY AND MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS, WHICH HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE HEREFORDSHIRE EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY SERVICE.

Anger management for parents & carers - www.thepsychfiles.com/2007/10/episode-33-timeout-revisited-dealing-with-challenging-kids-part-1/

Anxiety for parents & carers - www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk/anxiety.asp

Self-regulation for parents & carers - https://self-reg.ca/

Wondering aloud for parents & carers - www.saia.org.uk/blog/wondering-aloud-building-support-for-young-people-who-are-in-crisis

Relaxation for coronavirus - https://blog.calm.com/take-a-deep-breath

Square breathing for parents & carers - www.kidsrelaxation.com/uncategorized/the-deep-breath-box-square-breathing

https://youtu.be/YFdZXwE6fRE

Growth mindset for parents & carers - www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/help-your-child-try-new-things

Shame for parents & carers - www.oohctoolbox.org.au/trauma-and-shame

Sexualised behaviour for teachers - www.brook.org.uk/our-work/the-sexual-behaviours-traffic-light-tool

ACEs for teachers - youngminds.org.uk/resources/policy-reports/addressing-adversity-book/

Trauma sensitive care for schools & parents -https://www.iriss.org.uk/resources/insights/trauma-sensitive-practice-children-care