Bentley New Village Primary School
How a new approach reduced suspensions by 80%
Bentley New Village Primary School was facing disruptive behaviour, physical aggression and absconding. Behaviour strategies weren’t having the impact staff needed, and the school was struggling to evidence the effectiveness of its nurture provision.
By embedding Thrive, the team has reduced fixed-term suspensions by 80%, improved children’s engagement and strengthened attendance and attainment.
The Context
Before Thrive was introduced, staff at Bentley New Village felt like they were firefighting.
The school was facing disruptive behaviour, physical aggression and absconding, and the behaviour strategies being used were not effective enough. Staff were also finding it difficult to evidence the impact of the school’s nurture unit.
- Location: Doncaster
- Pupils: 275 (ages 3–11)
- FSM: 50%
- Thrive introduced: 2019
- Licensed Practitioners: 4
Why Thrive?
The school needed an approach that would help staff understand behaviour differently and respond in a more consistent, relational way.
Thrive offered a framework for seeing behaviour as communication, rather than simply something to be managed. It also gave the school a way to identify pupils’ social and emotional needs, plan targeted support and evidence progress through Thrive-Online.
This was particularly important for pupils whose needs may otherwise have gone unnoticed, including those who were not showing aggressive behaviour but still needed social and emotional support.
A NEW WAY TO UNDERSTAND BEHAVIOUR
How Thrive was implemented
Initially, some staff were sceptical. There was a concern that children were choosing certain behaviours so they could go to the Thrive Base to play. With time, coaching and clear modelling, views began to change.
- Three members of staff trained as Thrive Licensed Practitioners, including an assistant head.
- All staff were trained in Thrive theory, giving colleagues a shared understanding of children’s social and emotional development.
- Practice was monitored to make sure it reflected the school’s new ethos.
- Thrive-Online was used to identify children who needed social and emotional support.
- Staff created targeted action plans and monitored progress over time.
If you invest in it fully, then Thrive has an impact on everything from children’s happiness and engagement, through to their attendance and academic attainment.
Louise Wales
Inclusion Leader, Bentley New Village Primary School
RELATIONSHIPS AT THE HEART OF SCHOOL LIFE
Reframing behaviour across the school
Relationships are now at the heart of Bentley New Village.
Adults understand that children’s behaviour is a form of communication, and children trust that staff will respond with empathy.
This shift has changed how staff approach behaviour. Instead of relying on strategies that were not working, the team now uses a consistent approach that supports pupils’ emotional development and helps them engage with learning.
Charlie’s story
Charlie’s* experience shows how Thrive can support a child with significant social, emotional and behavioural needs.
When he was first assessed using Thrive-Online, Charlie had significant gaps in his social and emotional development and was below age-related expectations. He was threatening, verbally abusive and had limited engagement with learning.
Guided by his Thrive-Online action plan, staff focused on building trusting relationships. Charlie was given a key worker, clear and consistent boundaries, and support from adults who were trained to attune to and validate his emotions.
Charlie was reassessed using Thrive-Online every term. Two years later, his social and emotional skills had improved dramatically. His high-level behavioural incidents reduced from 24 per year to 12 per year, a 50% reduction.
He began to share his worries with a trusted adult, maintain eye contact, engage with learning in the classroom and attend a school trip. Charlie is now at secondary school.
*The child’s name has been changed to protect their identity.
FEWER SUSPENSIONS, STRONGER ENGAGEMENT
Impact across the school
Bentley New Village has seen strong whole-school impact since embedding Thrive.
Fixed-term suspensions have reduced by 80%. Children are happier and more engaged, and attendance and attainment have improved.
For Inclusion Leader Louise Wales, this reflects the school’s commitment to making a complete shift in both policy and practice. When staff fully invest in Thrive, she says, it has an impact “on everything from children’s happiness and engagement, through to their attendance and academic attainment.”
A 'NEVER GIVE UP' APPROACH
Recognition
Bentley New Village Primary School has been awarded Thrive School of Excellence, the highest level in Thrive’s Ambassador School scheme, recognising its work in supporting mental health and wellbeing.
We want to give our children the skills to succeed in life beyond New Village. We’re so passionate and feel we’ve made a difference to our children’s experiences of school.
Louise Wales
Inclusion Leader, Bentley New Village Primary School
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