Dovecote School
‘Outstanding’ from Ofsted and Thrive School of Excellence in just two years
Dovecote School opened in September 2022 to support pupils whose social, emotional and mental health needs had significantly affected their engagement with life and learning.
By placing mental health and wellbeing at the centre of its provision, the school has created a therapeutic, relationship-led environment where pupils feel safe, supported and more open to learning. In just two years, Dovecote has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted and recognised as a Thrive School of Excellence.
The Context
Dovecote School supports young people who have often had difficult experiences of education.
All pupils have EHCPs, and many have experienced previous unsuccessful school placements. For some, this has been detrimental to their progress and has affected their trust, confidence and readiness to learn.
- Location: Somerset
- Pupils: 85 (ages 5–19)
- Thrive introduced: 2022
- Licensed Practitioners: 8
Why Thrive?
The Dovecote team had used Thrive in a previous setting and had seen the positive impact it could have.
They knew that embedding the Approach would be key to helping pupils become more open to learning. Thrive gave staff a shared way to understand behaviour, build safe relationships and support pupils’ social and emotional development.
For Dovecote, Thrive was not an additional intervention. It became part of the school’s wider commitment to putting mental health first.
MENTAL HEALTH AT THE HEART OF LEARNING
How Thrive was implemented
Thrive has been embedded at Dovecote since the school opened.
- All colleagues received bespoke inductions focused on pupils’ individual needs and the importance of building positive, safe relationships.
- All staff are now trained in Thrive techniques.
- Thrive sits alongside guided therapeutic interventions to help pupils understand the meaning of behaviour, build coping strategies and develop more positive emotional control.
- Eight Thrive Licensed Practitioners provide one-to-one support for pupils.
- Practitioners help pupils develop regulation skills, build safe relationships and better understand themselves and their peers.
When Thrive is embedded in everything you do, it makes teaching and learning an empowering process. It helps young people to feel heard, validated and safe.
Leah Roberts
Family, Inclusion and Wellbeing Coordinator, Dovecote School
SUPPORT THAT SURROUNDS THE CHILD
Putting mental health first
Mental health sits at the heart of life at Dovecote.
Alongside academic assessments such as GCSEs, pupils can work towards functional skills qualifications that support future career pathways.
The school’s environment also plays an important role. Facilities include a farm, forest school and gardens, creating therapeutic spaces where pupils can learn, regulate and develop practical skills, including horticulture.
Dovecote also has a high ratio of staff to pupils, with specialists including a speech and language therapist and an occupational therapist working alongside teaching staff in the classroom. This means support can be integrated into everyday learning, rather than relying only on referrals to external agencies.
There is also a strong focus on working with parents and carers, helping pupils experience a consistent approach and shared language at home and at school.
Becoming more open to learning
Thrive-Online helps staff identify the specific social and emotional skills each pupil needs support with.
Tailored action plans give staff targeted strategies and activities to help strengthen these skills. Thrive-Online reports also provide data to show pupils’ social and emotional progress, especially when academic progress may not yet be the main priority.
This has made a clear difference for pupils. Many are now more resilient in managing the ups and downs of peer relationships. They are more curious about learning, feel safe enough to try new things and are developing the confidence to work towards qualifications.
thrive school of excellence
Recognition
Dovecote has been named a Thrive School of Excellence, the highest level of achievement in Thrive’s Ambassador School scheme. The award recognises settings showcasing outstanding mental health and wellbeing support.
For Leah Roberts, Family, Inclusion and Wellbeing Coordinator at Dovecote, the award reflects the school’s journey since opening: “Gaining the Thrive School of Excellence award upholds our commitment to the mental health and wellbeing of our whole school community and is a wonderful way to end our second academic year.”
Leah describes Thrive as a transformative approach that shapes the whole school community: “When it’s embedded in everything you do, it makes teaching and learning an empowering process. It helps young people to feel heard, validated and safe.”
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