Life Skills Manor
Creating hope, healing and opportunity
Life Skills Manor for Autism supports pupils who need a relational, emotionally informed approach to learning.
Faced with increasing numbers of pupils experiencing anxiety, low self-esteem, attachment difficulties and trauma-related behaviours, the team embedded Thrive to strengthen emotional literacy, inclusion and regulation across the school.
The school is now rated Outstanding by Ofsted and has been named a Thrive School of Excellence.
The Context
Life Skills Manor was seeing more pupils struggling with anxiety, low self-esteem, attachment difficulties and trauma-related behaviours.
The team recognised that they needed to rethink how they supported pupils’ social and emotional development. They wanted an approach that would help staff understand pupils’ needs more clearly and respond in a way that supported both emotional wellbeing and learning.
- Location: Kent
- Pupils: 49 (ages 10–18)
- Thrive introduced: 2022
- Licensed Practitioners: 1
Why Thrive?
As an independent school with high expectations, Life Skills Manor wanted a framework that would promote emotional literacy and inclusion while aligning with its values.
Thrive stood out because of its grounding in neuroscience and child development theory. It helped staff understand how the brain develops, how adverse experiences can affect learning and behaviour, and what support children need at different developmental stages.
How Thrive was implemented
Life Skills Manor took a planned, whole-school approach to embedding Thrive, with trained staff, dedicated spaces and consistent support for pupils.
- Senior leaders and practitioners worked together to create a whole-school approach, placing emotional wellbeing at the centre of daily practice.
- A clear roadmap was developed to embed Thrive over three years. This gave staff time to adopt consistent language and behaviours, and to experience the culture shift that comes with embedding the Approach.
- One of the biggest practical challenges was space. The team negotiated a budget with senior leaders and converted both a garage and a garden into safe, calm spaces where targeted Thrive work could take place. These spaces now support pupils who need time, connection and focused relational work as part of their school day.
Thrive helps pupils to understand and regulate their emotions, leading to greater emotional resilience, confidence and self-esteem. This foundation enables healthier relationships and a stronger sense of belonging in our school.
Kim Ochs
Pastoral Manager, Life Skills Manor
More than a wellbeing tool
Creating a stronger sense of belonging
Thrive has helped pupils understand and regulate their emotions, supporting greater emotional resilience, confidence and self-esteem.
This has also strengthened relationships across the school. Pupils are building more trusting relationships with adults and peers, helping create a stronger sense of belonging.
Thrive-Online has played an important role by providing targeted, personalised action plans for pupils. These action plans help staff respond to individual needs in a consistent and informed way.
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Impact and recognition
Life Skills Manor is now rated Outstanding by Ofsted, having moved from a previous Good rating.
The team used Thrive data as part of its most recent Ofsted inspection, helping show the school’s approach to emotional wellbeing and pupil support.
The school has also been named a Thrive School of Excellence, the highest level in Thrive’s Ambassador School scheme. This recognises settings that showcase outstanding mental health and wellbeing support.
For Kim Ochs, Pastoral Manager and Thrive Licensed Practitioner, this recognition reflects the wider purpose of the school’s work. “We feel a deep sense of pride, responsibility and excitement about being a beacon for emotional education.”
TRANSFORMING LIVES
A message to other schools
For Life Skills Manor, Thrive is helping pupils not just manage school, but build the confidence, relationships and emotional foundations they need for life beyond it.
“Thrive schools are creating hope, healing and opportunity. You’re not just teaching; you’re transforming lives.”
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