Woodend Farm School is an independent special school in Essex. The school opened its doors in 2023 and supports 16 young people aged 6 to 11 years. It provides a personalised approach to learning that is tailored to the specific needs of its pupils.
Many young people arrive at the school having experienced multiple unsuccessful school placements, reduced timetables or long periods out of education. Recognising the impact of these experiences on pupils’ emotional wellbeing and readiness to learn, Woodend Farm School decided to put Thrive at the heart of its provision from the very beginning.
In just over a year, Woodend Farm School has been recognised as a Thrive School of Excellence for its commitment to supporting pupils’ social and emotional development and for creating an inclusive environment where young people feel safe, supported and ready to learn.
Embedding Thrive from the start
From the outset, Woodend Farm School wanted to make Thrive central to its approach. Many members of the team had already trained as Thrive Licensed Practitioners before the school opened and were confident the Approach would provide pupils with the comprehensive support they need.
Using Thrive-Online, the school assesses pupils’ social and emotional development and creates detailed action plans tailored to their individual needs. Pupils requiring additional support receive one-to-one sessions with Thrive Licensed Practitioners, while group sessions help all pupils stay on track with their social and emotional skills.
Meeting pupils’ needs
Thrive is a golden thread that runs through every aspect of Woodend Farm School’s provision. Lessons are adapted to meet each pupil’s developmental needs and individual timetables are adjusted according to Thrive assessments.
All staff receive ongoing training with Thrive Licensed Practitioners to ensure their assessments are accurate and that action plans remain effective. This responsive approach ensures that pupils’ emotional needs are always at the forefront.
Transforming behaviour and relationships
The impact of Thrive at Woodend Farm School has been profound. Staff report significant progress in pupils’ social and emotional skills which has improved their engagement with learning.
One of the most notable changes is how staff perceive behaviour and respond to young people in crisis. With a deeper understanding of the reasons behind a pupil’s behaviour, the team can respond effectively in the moment with compassion and curiosity. This shift in perspective has also transformed relationships with families. Many parents, who had negative past experiences with school staff, now engage positively and collaborate with the school.
Impressing Ofsted
Following their first Ofsted inspection in 2024, Woodend Farm School achieved a ‘Good’ rating and were praised for the strong, trusting relationships staff build with pupils and their families as well as the happy, inclusive and welcoming environment they have created.
The inspection report stated: “Staff support pupils to manage their worries about change, new places and people. The personalised curriculum helps pupils to be emotionally ready to learn. Pupils learn to communicate with others positively. As a result, they look forward to coming to school and attend regularly. Pupils flourish at their happy, inclusive and welcoming school.”
Thrive School of Excellence
To recognise the extraordinary impact Woodend Farm School is having on its pupils and the wider community, the school has been named as a Thrive School of Excellence. The award is the highest level of achievement in Thrive’s Ambassador School scheme, which shines a light on settings showcasing outstanding mental health and wellbeing support.
Head of School, Nicola Overland, reflected on the school’s journey to this point: “Our journey to becoming a Thrive School of Excellence has been both challenging and rewarding. Thrive has allowed us to reflect on our approach to behaviour and build the school around this backbone. Thrive-Online enables us to put Thrive progress and data at the centre of the pupils’ curriculum.”
“Thrive will transform your practice and your understanding of behaviour and the reasons behind it. This will then change the way you approach academic learning”, she added.
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