Thrive

      

 

The Thrive Approach at SAIL

At SAIL, we believe that children learn best when they feel safe, supported, and valued. That’s why we use the Thrive Approach to help every child develop the emotional resilience and social skills they need to succeed – both in school and in life.

What Is the Thrive Approach?

The Thrive Approach is a practical, evidence-based way of supporting children’s emotional and social development. Grounded in neuroscience, attachment theory, and child development research, Thrive helps us understand the meaning behind children’s behaviour and respond in ways that build trust, connection, and emotional growth.

At SAIL, Thrive is embedded into our everyday practice. It shapes how we interact with pupils, how we support emotional wellbeing, and how we create a calm, nurturing environment where every child can flourish.

How We Use Thrive at SAIL

We apply the Thrive Approach across the whole school to support every pupil, at every stage of development.

Key elements include:

• Whole-Class Strategies
  Teachers use Thrive-informed approaches—such as storytelling, play, mindfulness, and creative expression—to support emotional literacy and help all children feel grounded and connected.
• Thrive Assessments
  We use specialist tools to identify where a child may need extra support in their emotional development, allowing us to tailor activities and interventions to their needs.
• 1:1 and Small Group Sessions
  Some children benefit from more focused time to explore emotions, build confidence, and develop regulation strategies. These sessions are led by our two trained Thrive Practitioners, Melanie Phipps and Alicja Tarka.
• Calm Spaces
  We provide safe, quiet areas within the school where children can take time to self-regulate, reflect, or reset with support from trusted adults.
• Home-School Partnership
  We believe working together is key. Thrive enables us to guide and support families with strategies that can be continued at home to promote consistency and emotional security.

Want to Know More?

If you'd like to understand more about how Thrive supports your child at SAIL, we’re here to help. You can:

• Speak to your child’s class teacher
• Contact Melanie Phipps or Alicja Tarka through the school office
• Join one of our pastoral and school nurse coffee mornings to learn more about emotional wellbeing and the support available in school
• Visit https://www.thriveapproach.com for further information about the Thrive framework

Helping Every Child Thrive

At SAIL, we’re committed to supporting the whole child – academically, socially, and emotionally. The Thrive Approach is a key part of our commitment to nurturing confident, resilient, and emotionally aware learners.