Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy has been recognised as a School of Excellence by Thrive.

The Thrive Approach was developed to support the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people as a foundation to improve their learning.

Nykki Hinton, Thrive practitioner at the academy, said: “We are very excited to announce that we have been awarded Thrive Ambassador School of Excellence in Relationships, in recognition of our whole school Thrive Approach.

“We have worked hard to create safe and meaningful relationships, both with our children and with the wider community.”

Nykki says that by following a whole school approach, every child benefits, whether through whole class activities, small group work or one-to-one sessions with the Thrive practitioner.

Parents are also invited to attend information sessions and the school’s Family Thrive course, to gain insight and strategies to support their own children.

To achieve the Thrive ambassador status schools have to demonstrate how they support the importance of relationships and make connections to the Thrive Approach throughout school.

Nykki added: “Children’s relationships, as well as their repeated experiences, are big contributors to how their stress regulation system reacts and responds to perceived threats.

“Children’s relationships and experiences at school contribute to this and, therefore, it is our duty to ensure these are positive.

“This includes ensuring that all of our children are receiving Thrive input and that all staff have an understanding of, and can implement, the Thrive Approach, using appropriate language and understanding.”

There are four further excellence awards created by Thrive, which the school is working to achieve.

Head teacher Sam Leek said: “The Thrive Approach is fundamentally about the wellbeing of children as a foundation to improving their learning.

“The approach helps us to create an environment of safety for children, making every child feel special and to support their needs on an individual basis. This naturally improves their learning as children grow in confidence.”