Thrive's Head of Theory and Practice and Principal Trainer, Viv Trask-Hall, has joined the Department for Education's Anti-bullying and Behaviour Toolkit Expert Panel. The panel will provide independent scrutiny and expert insight to a major national review examining effective approaches to behaviour, exclusions and bullying prevention, helping inform future guidance for schools across England.
We're delighted to share that Thrive's Head of Theory and Practice and Principal Trainer, Viv Trask-Hall B.Ed(Hons), DFIFIP, NPQH, is a member of the Department for Education's (DfE) Anti-bullying and Behaviour Toolkit Expert Panel.
Having joined the panel in May 2026, Viv has spent the past six months contributing her expertise alongside fellow panel members from across education, behaviour, safeguarding, anti-bullying practice and school leadership. The panel provides independent scrutiny, challenge and expert input into the development of a new Anti-bullying and Behaviour Toolkit for schools.
The toolkit aims to provide evidence-informed guidance that complements existing statutory and non-statutory guidance and supports schools in making informed decisions about their practice. Viv joins a group of experts helping to ensure that a range of perspectives and experiences from across the education sector are considered throughout the programme.
Viv’s role on the Expert Panel
The Expert Panel has been established to provide independent oversight, challenge and professional expertise throughout the programme.
Bringing together specialists from a range of backgrounds helps ensure that different perspectives are represented and that discussions are informed by both evidence and practical experience from across the education sector.
At a time when schools are balancing a range of competing priorities, accessible and evidence-informed guidance has an important role to play in supporting confident decision-making and effective practice.
Why Thrive has been invited to the conversation
The Expert Panel has been established to provide independent oversight, scrutiny and professional expertise throughout the development of the toolkit.
As a panel member, Viv contributes her experience of working with schools, trusts and local authorities to support behaviour, inclusion and emotional wellbeing. Alongside fellow panel members, she reviews emerging findings, provides professional challenge and helps ensure discussions are informed by both evidence and practice.
Her involvement reflects the importance of bringing a range of perspectives to conversations about behaviour, bullying prevention and creating environments where children and young people feel safe, supported and ready to learn.
Speaking about the appointment, Viv said:
"I'm pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this important work. Schools are working hard to support children and young people in increasingly complex circumstances, and it's vital that guidance is informed by both evidence and the realities of practice. I'm looking forward to continuing these discussions alongside colleagues from across the sector."
Why Thrive has been invited to the conversation
At Thrive, we have spent 30 years supporting schools, trusts and local authorities to better understand behaviour, strengthen inclusion and improve emotional wellbeing through a relational and developmental approach.
Our work is grounded in the belief that understanding children's social and emotional development is essential to creating environments where they can learn, flourish and succeed.
Viv's invitation to join the Expert Panel reflects the contribution Thrive has made to these conversations across the sector and the value of bringing a developmental perspective into discussions about behaviour, inclusion and bullying prevention.
What could this mean for schools?
Over the coming months, the reviews will continue to examine the evidence base and identify the approaches that show promise in helping schools promote positive behaviour, reduce preventable exclusions and tackle bullying effectively.
For schools, trusts and local authorities, the resulting toolkit has the potential to become an important source of evidence-informed guidance, helping leaders navigate an increasingly complex landscape with greater confidence.
For Thrive, participation in the Expert Panel is an opportunity to contribute to an important national conversation while continuing our commitment to supporting education settings through evidence-informed, practical approaches that put relationships, inclusion and children's development at the heart of school life.
Ready to strengthen your school's approach to bullying prevention?
Take the next step with Thrive's Preventing Bullying Through Awareness and Action online course. Designed for education professionals, it provides practical strategies to help you recognise, prevent and respond to bullying while creating a safer, more inclusive environment where every child can thrive.
