Sutton Park Primary School
A ‘totally different place’ thanks
to Thrive
Sutton Park Primary School has built a culture rooted in care, empathy and high expectations.
When staff began looking for a better way to respond to disruptive classroom behaviour, Thrive gave them a shared framework for understanding what children were communicating through their behaviour and how to support them more consistently.
Since introducing the Approach, the school has seen a significant reduction in behavioural incidents, strengthened relationships across the school community and created a calmer environment where children are better able to learn.
The Context
Sutton Park Primary School already had a strong culture of care, but staff needed a more effective way to understand and respond to disruptive classroom behaviour.
A traditional behaviour management approach was not enough for children whose social and emotional needs were affecting their learning. The team needed a shared framework that would help staff identify those needs earlier and respond consistently.
- Location: Kidderminster, Worcestershire
- Trust: Central Region Schools Trust
- Pupils: 241 (ages 3–11)
- FSM: 25.2%
- Thrive introduced: 2019
- Licensed Practitioners: 4
Why Thrive?
Thrive gave Sutton Park a way to understand behaviour as communication.
At first, some staff saw the Approach as “soft”. Once they understood the science and theory behind Thrive, views began to change.
Staff now understand that underdeveloped social and emotional skills can have a direct impact on learning and academic achievement. This shared understanding has helped improve relationships and behaviour across the school.
BEHAVIOUR AS COMMUNICATION
How Thrive was implemented
Thrive is now fully embedded across Sutton Park.
- The school has five Thrive Licensed Practitioners, including a trained member of the senior leadership team.
- Lead Practitioners deliver staff meetings, with colleagues and governors invited to attend.
- Regular CPD ensures Thrive principles remain visible and are woven throughout school life.
- All staff use Thrive techniques in their daily practice.
- Thrive-Online is used to assess pupils’ social and emotional skills and identify children who need extra support. The platform also provides strategies and activities that can be built into daily routines and teaching.
- Thrive-Online data provides evidence of progress for Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments and was used during the school’s 2023 Ofsted inspection to show how children’s personal development is supported.
The school is a totally different place to where we started. It has been amazing to see the changes in the children and how effective the approaches have been.
Danielle Duignan
SENDCo and teacher, Sutton Park Primary School
CALMER CLASSROOMS, STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS
Creating a whole-school approach
Everyone at Sutton Park understands that behaviour is a form of communication and that unmet social and emotional needs can affect learning.
This has changed how staff respond to pupils. Instead of focusing only on what has happened, staff are better able to consider what a child may need and how they can be supported to re-engage.
All staff use Thrive techniques in daily practice, and the school has seen a significant reduction in behavioural incidents.
SENDCo and teacher Danielle Duignan says: “It has been amazing to see the changes in the children and how effective the approaches have been. The school culture is deeply rooted in care and empathy, all of which is a result of the understanding that all behaviour is the communication of unmet needs.”
'Outstanding' from Ofsted
Following its 2023 inspection, Sutton Park was rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
Inspectors recognised pupils’ calm, orderly and respectful behaviour, as well as the motivation of staff to do their best for pupils.
The report also highlighted pupils’ positive behaviour in lessons and around the school, including younger children listening carefully in class, anti-bullying champions supporting others at playtime, and older pupils organising games.
A LASTING DIFFERENCE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Thrive School of Excellence
Sutton Park 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.
For Danielle, the award reflects the hard work of the whole school community and the difference Thrive has made to children and families.
“I would say without question, Thrive has been the most effective CPD I have ever had and the one which has made the most difference to the lives of the children and families in our community. I would recommend it in a heartbeat.”
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