At Pentland Primary School, we know that children learn best when they feel happy, safe, and understood. That’s why we use the Thrive Approach to support the social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs of our pupils. Thrive helps us to make sure every child gets the right support at the right time, so they can grow in confidence, build positive relationships, and enjoy their learning.
What is Thrive?
Thrive is all about helping children understand and manage their feelings. It gives teachers and staff simple ways to support children’s emotional development, whether that’s through play, creative activities, talking, or learning new skills for managing tricky emotions.
At different ages, children need different kinds of support. Thrive helps us match activities and approaches to each child’s stage of development, so that every child feels safe, secure, and ready to learn.
How will my child be involved in Thrive?
At Pentland Primary School, we use a tool called Thrive-Online® to support children’s social and emotional development. This tool helps us understand the developmental needs of each child and class, and suggests practical ways we can help them thrive. Every term, we screen all children using Thrive-Online® and use the results to plan activities and lessons that build into our Relationships and Thrive Curriculum. This means we can provide the right support, track progress over time, and help every child move forward with confidence to reach their potential.
How Thrive Helps Our Children
Through Thrive, we:
-
Build strong foundations – helping children feel safe, cared for, and ready to explore.
-
Support emotional growth – teaching children how to recognise and manage their feelings.
-
Encourage positive relationships – helping children get along with others and build friendships.
-
Boost learning – when children feel calm and confident, they can focus better on their schoolwork.
-
Develop resilience – giving children skills to cope with challenges and bounce back when things go wrong.
Thrive in Action
In school, Thrive sessions may include the following activities:
-
Playing and creating together.
-
Talking about feelings and learning strategies to manage them.
-
Practising social skills, such as sharing and teamwork.
-
Using relaxation and mindfulness to help calm busy minds.
Further information can be found on the Thrive Parent’s Guide.
Thrive Activities for Home
Calming Activities for Children
Calming Activities for Children in EYFS
Calming Activities for Younger Children
Thrive Welling (4-7 years)
Thrive Wellbeing (7-11 years)
Thrive Kindness Advent Calendar
