In February 2025, Carlene Street, Pastoral Manager at Fulbrook School in Milton Keynes, joined the first cohort embarking on the Thrive Wellbeing Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship.
Having recently joined Fulbrook, Carlene was keen to improve her skills and enhance the support she could offer to her students and the wider school community. After researching the benefits of Thrive, Carlene felt the Specialist Teaching Assistant apprenticeship was the perfect fit.
A supportive learning community
Initially, Carlene had some concerns about the demands of the apprenticeship and whether she would be able to manage studying again. However, those fears were soon put to rest. “My doubts crept in and I was worried I would struggle with the workload and my own ability to study, however my Thrive tutors are amazing and supportive,” she said.
“I look forward to my Thrive sessions. The content is suitable and accessible for our group and we’re all really supportive of each other. I feel very supported by my tutors and the content so far has been really interesting – I’m learning so many different things.”
One aspect that has made a big impression on Carlene is the sense of connection with fellow apprentices on the programme.
“What’s stood out to me most is how close our Thrive group has become already.”
Seeing impact from the start
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Despite being in the early stages of the apprenticeship, Carlene has been applying her learning from the get-go and is already seeing results – both in school and at home.
“I’m now able to observe students in a classroom and relate behaviours back to my learning. I’ve been trying the methods we’ve been told about in training too. I’ve found myself using the check-ins from our sessions and the body scan proved particularly successful with students. My Reset Room is definitely a calmer workspace now.”
“I’ve been using some of the training at home with my two teenage boys as well – they haven’t realised yet that I’m using Thrive on them!”
Over to you
If you’re keen to learn more about Thrive apprenticeships, click below to read FAQs, download course guides for employers, and apply before the deadline.
Explore Thrive apprenticeships
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