Thrive

At Nigel Bowes Academy, the Thrive Approach forms a core part of our practice and supports our commitment to meeting the emotional and social needs of every pupil. We use Thrive as a developmental and trauma‑sensitive framework to help children feel safe, regulated and ready to learn. As part of this whole‑school approach, every class takes part in twice‑weekly ‘Right Time’ sessions, providing regular opportunities to build emotional resilience, strengthen relationships and support children in developing the skills they need to understand and manage their feelings and navigate the world around them. Our excellence in “Right Time” has been recognised by Thrive, and we are proudly a “Thrive Ambassador School with Excellence in Right Time”.

Links to the Thrive Approach are intentionally woven throughout our curriculum. Whether exploring key themes of emotional and social development in English, engaging in collaborative problem‑solving in maths, or investigating the wonderful world in science, staff make purposeful connections back to Thrive principles to reinforce emotional literacy and model positive interactions. The curriculum at Nigel Bowes Academy already places a strong emphasis on personal development, wellbeing, and social‑emotional learning, and building Thrive into everyday lessons ensures that these values are consistently embedded. Wherever possible, lessons incorporate creativity, expression and the arts to offer pupils safe, engaging ways to explore emotions, communicate ideas and experience success.

To further support pupils who may need more focused intervention, the academy also benefits from trained Thrive Practitioners who deliver 1:1 and small‑group sessions. These sessions offer targeted, relational support tailored to each child’s stage of development, helping them revisit and repair early developmental gaps in a safe, structured and nurturing way. This personalised therapeutic provision sits alongside the wider whole‑school use of Thrive, ensuring that every pupil benefits from a consistent approach grounded in connection, understanding and emotional growth.

For more information about Thrive, please speak with the school or visit www.thriveapproach.com