From Surviving to Thriving - Building Attendance, Belonging and Engagement for Every Child

• Feel better equipped to support whole-school attendance through a Thrive-informed approach.
• Develop more compassionate and effective responses to emotionally based school avoidance.
• Strengthen your understanding of how Thrive theory can inform attendance practice.
• Connect your approach with the statutory DfE framework and current research.
• Learn from Sharon Gray’s extensive experience in inclusive, trauma-informed education.

By the end of this 2-hour session, you will be able to:

• Explain attendance, EBSA, and rising persistent absence, and understand the value of a relational, support-first approach.
• Distinguish between anxiety and overwhelm, recognising the role of neuroscience, stress, and co-regulation.
• Use the Five Domains of Safety and a tiered model to assess needs and focus support where it has most impact.
• Track absence in days, not percentages, using clear triggers for early action across the school system.
• Apply practical strategies to support families, improve attendance for all, and identify clear next steps.