The achievements of a Thrive Ambassador School have been recognised by Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP in a letter praising its hard work and dedication to supporting mental wellbeing.
The Hub, in Catterick, was named as an Ambassador School with Excellence in the Environment earlier this year in an achievement which featured on the Thrive website and in local media coverage. This prompted Mr Sunak, whose constituency The Hub is in, to send a letter to Director Becca Morgan, commending the setting for its work in supporting the mental health of young people.
“Congratulations on being awarded Ambassador School status – the first in Yorkshire I understand – for your delivery of an educational environment based on the Thrive principles,” the letter said.
“It must be very rewarding – and hard work – to create a supportive setting which brings the best out of young people who face a variety of challenging circumstances. I am sure many families in North Yorkshire are very grateful for the service you provide.”
The Hub specialises in supporting children and teenagers with social emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. It also caters for pupils with special educational needs and disability (SEND). It has 10 pupils aged from 10 to 16 that teachers work with on a one-to-one basis to support their emotional wellbeing and learning goals.
Hub Director Becca Morgan said: “It's always great when word gets out about the work we do - but even better to receive recognition unexpectedly and unsolicited from the House of Commons! That made it all the more special. I am so proud of all our staff and students and am thrilled that we are being acknowledged for the important work that we do. We know we are changing lives with the Thrive Approach® and are pleased that the good news is spreading.”
The award recognises schools which are making a positive impact on their pupils and on the wider community by having a focus on emotional health and creating an environment in which children’s wellbeing thrives.
At the Hub, children are greeted individually by their teacher at the start of the school day and then they sit down, with staff, for breakfast together before starting lessons. Each child has their own learning space that they can retreat to if they are feeling overwhelmed and there are plenty of sensory features in every room aimed at creating a quiet and calming atmosphere. Pupils take part in regular yoga, forest school, cooking and meditation sessions to help them to feel calm and emotionally-regulated.
Over to you
Are you leading the way in developing happy, emotionally-resilient children or young people? Are you feeling the impact of embedding the Thrive Approach throughout your setting? You too may be eligible for Thrive Ambassador School status. Click here to find out how to apply.
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