Package or apprenticeship? Choosing the right route to becoming a Thrive School

Which route to becoming a Thrive School is right for you?

If your school is considering becoming a Thrive School, you may have realised there is more than one way to get started.

For some schools, the package route will be the quickest way to begin embedding Thrive. For others, an apprenticeship could be the right fit for developing a member of staff. In some cases, eligible schools may even choose to combine both.

Understanding the differences can feel confusing, particularly when you're also considering funding, staff roles and implementation timescales.

That's why we've created a practical comparison guide to help.

  

At a glance

Here's a quick comparison of the two routes.

	Package Route	Apprenticeship Route
Best for	Schools wanting the quickest, most direct route to becoming a Thrive School	Developing an eligible member of staff through a longer learning programme
Timeframe	Around 3 months	Longer programme (depending on apprenticeship, around 14 months)
How it's funded	School budget or relevant funding streams (such as IMF where appropriate)	Growth & Skills Levy (eligibility applies)
Who it's for	Any school wanting to embed Thrive	Eligible learners in England supported by their employer
Includes	Thrive Licensed Practitioner training, Thrive-Online and dedicated implementation support	Thrive Licensed Practitioner training, Thrive-Online for the duration of the programme, and a nationally recognised Level 5 qualification.

    
What's included in the guide?

Our free guide compares the package and apprenticeship routes side by side, helping you understand:

• who each route is designed for
• what's included
• expected timescales
• eligibility requirements
• funding options available
• when it may make sense to combine both routes

You'll also find a simple comparison table to help you quickly identify which approach best fits your school's priorities.

  
Funding explained

The guide also outlines the different ways each route can be funded.

Depending on your school and eligibility, this could include:

• school budget
• apprenticeship funding through the Growth & Skills Levy
• relevant funding streams such as the Inclusive Mainstream Fund

Rather than navigating multiple funding documents, the guide brings everything together in one place.

  
Whether you're planning for September, exploring inclusion priorities or simply trying to understand the options available, our comparison guide is a practical place to start.

Download: Which route to becoming a Thrive School is right for you?