Thrive & Wellbeing Support
Supporting Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing
At Fountains High School, we recognise that positive mental health and emotional wellbeing are important for learning, communication, relationships, independence and preparation for adulthood.
We are committed to providing a safe, inclusive and supportive environment where students feel understood, respected and able to achieve their potential.
As a Thrive School of Excellence, we use a relational, trauma-informed approach to support students’ emotional wellbeing and development. We recognise that every young person is unique and that students may require different levels of support at different times.
Many of our students may experience challenges that affect their emotional wellbeing, communication, wellbeing and readiness to learn. Our approach focuses on building positive relationships, promoting emotional wellbeing, identifying needs early and providing the right support at the right time.
Our Wellbeing Offer
Our wellbeing offer is underpinned by the Thrive Approach, which shapes how we understand, support and respond to the social and emotional needs of our students.
We provide a graduated approach to wellbeing support through universal whole-school provision, targeted interventions and access to specialist services where appropriate.
All students benefit from our whole-school approach to wellbeing and Thrive practice. Where additional support is needed, students may access targeted interventions and specialist support based on their individual needs.
Our wellbeing offer may includes:
- Whole-school Thrive practice.
- GRIT curriculum.
- Individual or small group Thrive assessments and interventions.
- Nurture support.
- Drawing and Talking.
- Zones of Regulation.
- School-based wellbeing support and signposting to appropriate services.
- Family support and Early Help services.
- Support from external professionals and agencies where appropriate.
Support may be delivered through whole-school approaches, targeted group interventions or individual programmes depending on a student’s needs.
What is Thrive?
At Fountains High School, we are proud to be a Thrive School of Excellence.
Thrive is a nationally recognised, evidence-based approach that supports the social and emotional development of children and young people. It helps staff to understand students’ emotional needs and respond in ways that support their wellbeing, development and readiness to learn.
At Fountains High School, Thrive is embedded throughout school life. Through positive relationships and consistent approaches, we create an environment where students feel safe, supported and ready to succeed.
Across the school, Thrive is integrated into daily practice through:
- Thrive-informed classroom approaches.
- Thrive-trained staff who use consistent strategies and language to support emotional wellbeing.
- Targeted activities and interventions to develop emotional regulation, resilience and confidence.
- Safe and nurturing environments where students can express themselves and explore their feelings.
Through Thrive, we help students to:
- Understand and express their emotions.
- Develop resilience and self-confidence.
- Build positive relationships.
- Improve emotional regulation skills.
- Feel safe, supported and ready to learn.
- Develop independence and coping strategies.
Many of our students may face challenges that impact their emotional development, communication or wellbeing. Thrive helps us to identify needs early, reduce barriers to learning and ensure that young people feel understood, valued and supported.
Where appropriate, students may access individual or small group Thrive assessments and targeted Thrive interventions.
For more information about the Thrive Approach, please visit:
Nurture Support
Our nurture support offers additional help for students who may be experiencing social, emotional or wellbeing difficulties that are impacting their confidence, relationships, emotional regulation or readiness to learn.
Nurture support is a short-term targeted intervention, usually delivered over a period of 6-8 sessions, although this may vary depending on a student’s individual needs or progress.
Sessions focus on developing:
- Confidence and self-esteem.
- Communication and social skills.
- Emotional regulation and resilience.
- Positive relationships.
- Strategies to support wellbeing and engagement in school.
Support may be delivered on an individual basis or in small groups by trained staff within a safe and supportive environment.
By building trusting relationships and providing targeted support, nurture interventions help students develop the skills and confidence needed to engage successfully in school life and learning.
Drawing and Talking
Drawing and Talking is a therapeutic intervention delivered by trained practitioners to support children and young people who may be experiencing emotional difficulties or who have experienced significant life events.
Through a series of structured sessions, students use drawing as a safe and non-intrusive way to explore their thoughts, feelings and experiences.
Drawing and Talking can help students to:
- Develop emotional awareness.
- Improve self-esteem and confidence.
- Build resilience.
- Process worries and difficult experiences.
- Feel more able to express and understand their emotions.
Drawing and Talking is a targeted intervention and is offered where it is felt that this would be beneficial in supporting a student’s emotional wellbeing.
Mental Health Support Team (MHST)
We work in partnership with the Mental Health Support Team (MHST), an NHS service that supports children and young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health.
The MHST works closely with schools, families and other professionals to provide early intervention and evidence-based support for mild to moderate mental health difficulties. This may include support for difficulties such as anxiety, low mood and emotional wellbeing.
Where appropriate, school staff may discuss concerns with families and work collaboratively to explore whether support from the MHST would be beneficial.
Further information about the Mental Health Support Team can be found in the parent information leaflet below.
Meet Our Wellbeing Team
Holly Lakin
Designated Safeguarding Lead and Senior Mental Health Lead
Michelle Sturgess
Family Support Worker and Nurture Practitioner
Dani Jolivet
Thrive Practitioner
Ann Button
Drawing and Talking Practitioner
Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources
Further information, guidance and support can be found in our Safeguarding Resource Hub.
Visit Our Safeguarding Resource Hub
Contact Us
If you would like to discuss your child’s wellbeing, emotional health or mental health, please contact the school and ask to speak with a member of the wellbeing team.
Telephone: 01283 247580
Email: safeguarding@fountains-high.staffs.sch.uk
