The Thrive Advanced Practitioner programme is designed for experienced Thrive Licensed Practitioners who want to play a greater role in shaping inclusive, relational practice across their setting. Completed in just 3 months, the programme develops the knowledge, confidence and leadership skills needed to support colleagues, strengthen family partnerships and embed Thrive more strategically throughout their setting.
Licensed Practitioners play a vital role in supporting children and young people to build emotional resilience, strengthen relationships and engage more successfully with learning.
As settings continue to strengthen inclusive practice, respond to increasing levels of need and build meaningful partnerships with families, the role of the Thrive practitioner is evolving. Increasingly, schools need practitioners who can influence practice beyond direct work with children and young people, helping to develop colleagues, support whole-school approaches and contribute to wider wellbeing and inclusion priorities.
Moving from delivery to influence
Licensed Practitioners are often at the heart of Thrive implementation. They work directly with children, support colleagues and help embed relational practice throughout the school day. As schools mature in their Thrive journey, there is often a growing need for practitioners who can take on a wider role.This might include:
- Supporting colleagues to develop their understanding of relational practice
- Helping ensure Thrive is implemented consistently across the setting
- Using Thrive-Online data to demonstrate impact and identify priorities
- Contributing to wider SEND, wellbeing and inclusion strategies
- Strengthening partnerships between home and school
Why family partnerships matter
As schools continue to strengthen inclusive practice, meaningful engagement with parents and carers is becoming increasingly important. The DfE now identifies "strong partnerships with families and wider services" as one of the core principles underpinning inclusive practice in mainstream schools.
Schools know that children and young people achieve the best outcomes when the key adults in their lives are working together. Yet building consistent and confident relationships with families can be challenging, particularly when children are experiencing social, emotional or behavioural difficulties.
This is why developing expertise in family engagement has become such an important part of supporting inclusion, wellbeing and early intervention. The DfE has also highlighted the importance of increasing parental trust and confidence as part of its wider vision for inclusive education.
When schools are able to create shared understanding between home and school, they can:- Improve consistency of support for children and young people
- Strengthen relationships with parents and carers
- Increase confidence and understanding within families
- Support earlier intervention when concerns arise
- Create more joined-up approaches around wellbeing and development
For Thrive schools, the Family Thrive Course Leader qualification represents a natural extension of the relational approach that already sits at the heart of Thrive practice. It equips practitioners to work more confidently alongside parents and carers, delivering structured support that helps families better understand children's social and emotional development while strengthening the partnership between home and school.
By developing expertise in both advanced Thrive practice and family engagement, practitioners can help create a more connected, consistent and supportive experience for children and young people across all the environments in which they learn and grow.
Building expertise that benefits the whole setting
As schools continue to prioritise inclusion, emotional wellbeing and belonging, there is growing value in developing internal expertise that can influence practice across the wider organisation.
Experienced Thrive practitioners already have a strong understanding of children's social and emotional development. Building on this foundation enables them to contribute more strategically to school priorities and support colleagues in embedding effective relational approaches.
Rather than focusing solely on individual pupils, advanced practitioners can help create the conditions that allow Thrive practice to flourish throughout the setting.
Taking the next step in your Thrive journey
The Thrive Advanced Practitioner programme has been designed specifically for existing Thrive Licensed Practitioners who are ready to deepen their expertise and extend their impact. Alongside qualification as a Thrive Advanced Practitioner, participants also gain recognition as a Family Thrive Course Leader, equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to strengthen partnerships with parents and carers and support a more joined-up approach to children's wellbeing.
For schools already committed to Thrive, it provides an opportunity to develop internal leadership capacity, strengthen inclusive practice and maximise the impact of existing Thrive provision.
As expectations around inclusion, family engagement and wellbeing continue to grow, investing in advanced Thrive expertise can help schools ensure they are well placed to meet the needs of children, families and staff both now and in the future.
Explore the Thrive Advanced Practitioner pathway
Pass it on
Small actions can lead to a big ripple effect. If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, please consider supporting us in our mission to help every child and young person feel safe, supported and ready to learn by sharing it using the social media buttons below.
Want to join a like-minded community of senior leaders and classroom staff benefitting from insights and strategies to improve attendance, behaviour and attainment? Add your email address below. (It’s easy to unsubscribe).
