Deliver lasting public value through preventative support
Schools play a central role in supporting children and young people’s wellbeing, development and life opportunities. When young people feel safe, supported and able to engage in learning, the benefits extend far beyond the classroom.
But when pupils struggle to stay connected to education - through persistent absence, exclusion or disengagement - the consequences can affect not only individual lives, but wider public systems.
Supporting children early, strengthening relationships and addressing emotional needs can help schools reduce the need for costly reactive interventions later on.
The Challenge
Schools, trusts and local authorities are supporting increasing numbers of children and young people with complex needs, including SEND and emotional wellbeing challenges. At the same time, many services are managing stretched budgets, workforce pressures and growing demand for specialist support.
- Rising levels of persistent absence and disengagement
- Increasing pressure on alternative provision and specialist services
- Growing complexity of SEND and emotional wellbeing needs
- Staff capacity and workforce pressures across schools and services
- Greater demand for inclusive approaches that reduce escalation and exclusion
- Pressure to improve outcomes while making the best use of public funding
When support comes too late, needs can escalate further, increasing pressure on schools, families and wider public services.
How Thrive supports preventative system approaches
Thrive helps schools, trusts and local systems respond to children and young people’s social and emotional needs before challenges escalate.
Drawing on neuroscience and child development, Thrive helps schools and systems to:
- Identify and respond to emotional needs earlier
- Strengthen inclusive practice across whole school communities
- Support children to develop emotional regulation and resilience
- Reduce reliance on exclusion and reactive interventions
- Build consistent, relational cultures that support long-term engagement
By strengthening inclusion, relationships and engagement, Thrive helps schools create the conditions that support better outcomes for pupils while reducing pressure on wider services over time.
The Process
Evidence of system-level impact
Independent evaluation by ImpactEd, including analysis of more than 2,600 schools and a two-year mixed-methods study, highlights how the Thrive Approach is associated with reduced exclusions, improved attendance and stronger long-term system outcomes.
- 27% lower exclusion rates in Thrive schools compared to national averages
- 15% lower severe absence compared with national benchmarks
- Indicative long-term public value of £3.4 million for a MAT with 5,000 pupils
- Indicative long-term public value of £34 million for a local authority supporting 50,000 pupils
Truancy levels have dropped dramatically. We’ve seen children who used to leave the site or hide in toilets seek out Thrive Practitioners to talk about what’s going on for them.”
Samantha Strange
Personalised Learning Centre Manager, Northfields School & Sports College
Ready to strengthen outcomes across your system?
Whether you’re leading a trust, local authority or wider partnership, Thrive provides a practical framework for improving inclusion, engagement and long-term outcomes across multiple schools.
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Schools and settings
Embed emotionally informed practice across your school to support positive behaviour, stronger relationships and improved engagement.
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Trusts and system leaders
Develop a shared approach to behaviour, wellbeing and inclusion across multiple schools.
Supporting SEMH, inclusion and early intervention
Practical resources to help schools strengthen emotionally informed practice, identify needs earlier and create inclusive environments where children and young people feel safe, supported and ready to learn.
How Thrive Aligns with the 7 Principles of Inclusion in the Inclusive Mainstream Fund
This blog explores how Thrive helps schools strengthen inclusion through early identification of SEMH needs, relational practice, emotionally safe environments and evidence-informed support.
On-demand webinar: The neuroscience of belonging
A recorded session exploring why belonging matters and how it influences attendance and engagement.
Guide to improving attendance
A practical guide to strengthening attendance through emotionally informed practice.
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.