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At Thrive, we understand the importance of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) for children and young people. It equips them with essential skills to manage their emotions, build positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. It also enhances academic performance, fosters emotional intelligence, and promotes mental wellbeing by teaching resilience and stress management. Ultimately, it prepares children and young people for life by instilling adaptability and empowering them to thrive in school, in work and in society.
At the start of the year, Thrive had the pleasure of addressing Members of Parliament at an exclusive reception at the House of Commons. The brainchild of Dr Sam Rushworth MP who convened five leading organisations shaping the SEL agenda - Cambridge University Press & Assessment, Skills Builder Partnership, Think Equal, Salzburg Global, and Thrive. The event highlighted the critical importance of social and emotional skills for our children and young people as well as the impact on school attendance, attainment, behaviour and wellbeing.
Time for change
The event brought together experts, educators, policymakers, and young people to share insights and actionable recommendations. Keynote speeches emphasised the critical role SEL plays in building emotional intelligence, reducing issues like bullying and youth violence, and preparing children to navigate life's challenges.
Jane Mann, Managing Director of the Partnership for Education and Director of Education in the International Education Group at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, underlined the impact of SEL:
"The evidence is absolutely overwhelming that embedding social and emotional learning into curricula improves learning outcomes. It enhances mental health and it reduces issues like bullying, youth violence, and then those ripple effects go on way beyond the classroom and out into society."
Leslee Udwin, Founder and Executive Chair of Think Equal, called for action:
"What we need is tangible bold action. We need to roll out social and emotional learning for every child in our country while their brain, their personality, their primary belief system is being built. It’s not enough for our children to learn numeracy and literacy, they have to learn empathy, gender equality, racial equality, self-esteem, emotional regulation."
Pupils share their perspectives
Thrive’s Head of Product and Innovation, Viv Trask-Hall, spoke alongside Millie and Sam, pupils from Exceed Learning Partnership, a multi-academy trust in Doncaster. The students shared their experiences of how prioritising wellbeing at school has empowered them:
“At Exceed, wellbeing is part of everything we do—from the curriculum to the support we receive from teachers. It’s about helping us grow into confident, kind, and capable individuals. We believe all schools should make wellbeing a priority, and we’re asking policymakers to support this vision. Together, we can create a generation of young people who not only succeed but truly thrive.”
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A call to action
In her closing remarks, Viv Trask-Hall urged policymakers to make SEL a standard part of every child’s education:
“We urge you to provide the leadership and direction necessary to ensure all children and young people have access to high-quality social and emotional learning programmes. Equipping future generations with these essential life skills is not merely desirable; it’s essential—for their wellbeing and for the wellbeing of society.”
Dr Sam Rushworth MP ended the evening with a powerful message for his colleagues in Parliament:
“If you’re an MP in this room tonight, leave here and do something.”
Building momentum for SEL
The event at the House of Commons was a significant step toward ensuring SEL is recognised as a fundamental component of education. Thrive remains committed to advocating for systemic change that prioritises the mental health and emotional development of children and young people. Together, we can create a future where every child has the opportunity to flourish - academically, personally, and socially.
Join over 75,000 educators making a difference through social and emotional learning
If you’ve been inspired by the discussion at the House of Commons and want to join the 75,000+ educators already transforming attendance, behaviour, and attainment through SEL, schedule a Discovery Call with our team today.
These free, 30-minute Teams conversations are designed to fit around your schedule, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and explore how Thrive can support your school or setting.
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.
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