Address rising pressures on pupil wellbeing 

More children and young people are experiencing anxiety, emotional distress and difficulties with emotional regulation.

Thrive helps schools build the relationships, routines and emotional support pupils need to feel safe, connected and ready to learn.

The Challenge

Across the UK, schools are supporting more children and young people experiencing anxiety, emotional distress and wider wellbeing challenges.

For many pupils, this affects how they feel about school, how they relate to others and how ready they are to learn.

Many schools are seeing:

  • Rising levels of emotional distress among children and young people 
  • Increasing complexity of pupil needs in many schools 
  • Wellbeing closely linked to behaviour, engagement and attendance 
  • Schools seeking preventative approaches that support the whole child 

 

 

How Thrive supports wellbeing

Thrive helps schools strengthen the emotional foundations that support wellbeing and learning. 

Drawing on neuroscience and child development, the Thrive Approach helps schools to: 

  • Understand and support children’s emotional development 
  • Identify pupils who may need additional social and emotional support 
  • Build emotional regulation, resilience and confidence 
  • Strengthen trusting relationships between pupils and staff 
  • Create supportive environments where children and young people feel safe and valued 

By supporting emotional development and strengthening relationships, Thrive helps schools create calmer classrooms and more positive learning environments. 

 

The Process

Proven impact on pupil wellbeing 

Independent evaluation by ImpactEd, including analysis of more than 2,600 schools and a two-year mixed-methods study, shows positive outcomes for pupil wellbeing in schools using Thrive. 
  • Pupil wellbeing in Thrive schools meets or exceeds national averages 
  • SEND wellbeing scores increased by around 5% over the 2023–24 academic year, despite wider national declines in pupil wellbeing 
  • Staff report pupils becoming calmer, more emotionally regulated and more confident over time

These improvements in emotional development and wellbeing are linked to stronger relationships and more consistent responses to pupils’ needs across staff teams. 

View the full evaluation

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“Wellbeing is not an initiative here – it’s something we do right across the school.”

Heidi Turner | Assistant Headteacher and Thrive Licensed Practitioner, Thornbury Primary School

 

Ready to strengthen pupil wellbeing in your school? 

Whether you’re leading a single school or shaping strategy across multiple settings, Thrive provides a clear framework for supporting emotional development and wellbeing. 

Schools and settings

Embed emotionally informed practice across your school to support wellbeing, positive relationships and engagement in learning. 

Explore becoming a Thrive School

Trusts and system leaders

Develop a shared approach to wellbeing, behaviour and inclusion across multiple schools. 

Explore system partnerships

 

 

 

Supporting pupil wellbeing

Explore free resources to help pupils feel safer, more settled and better able to manage the school day.

AI and wellbeing: what schools are noticing and why it matters

Explore the emerging ways AI is shaping children's emotional and social worlds, and how schools can respond.

Watch the on-demand webinar

From red pill to 80/20: decoding Netflix’s Adolescence to support mental health in education

Unpack how Adolescence reveals the hidden impact of toxic masculinity and learn how educators can create environments where boys feel safe to express emotion and ask for help.

Watch the on-demand webinar

How to spot the early warning signs of poor mental health in children and young people

This guide explores key behaviours to look out for, how to build safe, trusting relationships, and the steps to take if you have concerns - so you can provide the right support, at the right time.

Download the guide

 

Take the next step toward lasting change across your school or system.

Join 2,600+ schools and thousands of educators already
transforming practice with Thrive.

Become a Thrive SchoolSpeak to our partnerships team

 

 

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