The Thrive Approach

The Thrive Approach draws on the latest research - from current neuroscience, recent attachment research, current studies of effective learning and current models of child development – in order to help adults understand children’s behaviour as communication. It is an integrated approach; its strength is that it pulls together work from different disciplines to provide one model that is systematic, dynamic and relevant and helps adults respond to a child's emotional situation in a way that supports their emotional and social development.

If children have been emotionally thrown off track, either temporarily or over longer periods, Thrive helps us understand the needs being signalled by their behaviour and gives us targeted strategies and activities to help them re-engage.

Cause and effect

Feelings are closely linked to behaviour and emotions are key to the learning process. We can teach children to recognise and notice their sensations and then link these to their emotions and their thoughts. We build their cognitive, relational and physiological regulation systems so that they can see cause and effect and begin to make real choices, with some understanding of their consequences. This is the beginning of being responsible for one's actions. It has enormous impact on behaviour, on relationships, on being available to learn and on being productive and engaged in human society.

The relationship between a child and a significant adult is an under-recognised and under-used resource, but by using The Thrive Approach we can enhance this relationship, which will bear fruit. It can:

• help a child get ready to learn
• enhance their learning
• build positive relationships between a child and his/her peers
• improve attainment