Thank a Trainer: Ali Martin

"By improving relationships, you will improve behaviour"

Each month, we celebrate the valuable role our Thrive trainers play and share messages of thanks from the delegates they've supported.

 

Thank a Trainer Interview: Ali Martin

Q1. Please tell us about your career journey and what led you to becoming a trainer for Thrive.

I first came across Thrive in 2008, when I started as a Deputy Head at a large multi-cultural primary school in Bristol. I attended a whole-school induction and it felt like someone had found me the missing piece of the jigsaw.

I trained as a Thrive Licensed Practitioner and then as a trainer and was lucky enough to be offered a job rolling Thrive out across a multi-academy trust.

I converted to an adolescent trainer off the back of this, being on a mission to get Thrive into all of our secondary settings too.

I ended up developing and leading an alternative provision that took children from Bristol, Bath and South Gloucestershire at danger of exclusion. Using Thrive as our curriculum and baseline, we were able to prepare the pupils for emersion back into mainstream education or find them placements in a specialist setting that was able to meet their needs longer term.

The impact was incredible, and the success stories the bread and butter of my Thrive training now. I started life as an early years practitioner and am finishing my career with the delights of training early years practitioners as Thrive Licensed Practitioners. The most important place to start!

 

Q2. How do you feel about being thanked by your course delegates for the role you’ve played in their development?

It’s always a delight and a pleasure receiving feedback from the delegates. It’s important we continue to develop and grow as trainers and feedback is an essential part of that process.

 

Q3. How does this nomination remind you of the impact you are having on the social and emotional development of children and young people?

It is humbling to know that others see you in a way you don’t always see yourself. It’s always good to stop and reflect on your impact and to have some recognition of the things you do and the passion with which you do it.

There are many trainers worthy of this recognition and it’s important they all understand and are reminded of the impact they are having on the lives of others. I feel very lucky to be doing what I do.

  

 

  

Q4. What about the schools your Thrive delegates work in? Can you share any examples of how they’ve been able to reduce exclusions, boost attendance or improve learning engagement and outcomes for the children and young people in their care?

The stories that are shared all demonstrate that by improving relationships you will improve behaviour.

There are pupils who were at risk of permanent exclusion, and school refusers, who now attend lessons regularly as a direct result of having Thrive sessions as check-ins every day.

I recently heard about a girl who has a history of self-harm, who stopped herself and went to tell her Thrive practitioner how she was feeling and asked for help. So powerful.

 

Q5. Why should people consider becoming a Thrive trainer? What’s been the most rewarding aspect for you?

Being able to see the delegates grow in confidence and learn to talk about Thrive Approach in their own words, so that their settings have some understanding of the importance of the Approach.

As a trainer you may not be spending as much time with the children, but you are reaching many through the delegates you train.

 

 

Over to you

Each month, Thrive will be inviting you to thank a trainer who has consistently demonstrated a high degree of excellence and delegate care. If you've experienced Thrive training and you’d like to thank your trainer, please do so here. If you're already a Thrive Licensed Practitioner and interested in learning more about becoming a Licensed Trainer, click here for the detail and to book or here to book a 20-minute Discovery Call with Jo Glazier from our Member Services Team. These calls are designed to fit in around your schedule and to give you an opportunity to have your questions answered. We want you to spend your time, your money and your energy wisely so Jo won't sell to you - but she'll help you decide whether or not our transformational Train the Trainer course is a fit.