Thrive provides a supportive framework that gives caregivers, parents, practitioners and teachers an insight into the the interior experience of the child, thereby helping them to shape their care and educational provision in accordance with their needs.

Thrive assessment structure is divided into six strands that label the stages of full and healthy development:

1.Being
2.Doing
3.Thinking.
4.Power and Identity
5.Skills and Structure
6.Interdependence.

Beginning with the essential foundation of early infancy where in order to thrive we must be cared for and feel safe and special, the framework moves through the stages of development that are crucial for well-being, including freedom to explore and take risks, learning to make decisions and feel secure in our identity and moving towards interdependence as a young adult.

A Thrive assessment is made by practitioners as they work closely with each child and observe their patterns of behaviour and ways of relating. Over time, a map of developmental needs emerges, providing information that enables practitioners to implement more effective therapeutic support for children and their families.

If a child’s development has been interrupted due to adverse life circumstances, they may act in ways that correspond to the stage they have missed. Thrive is an invaluable tool for practitioners to assist the child in retracing steps of development so that they may become more at ease with themselves and others and participate more fully with the world.

The Koru Project’s Induction and Thrive Lead, is a licensed Thrive practitioner and trains therapists and mentors to use Thrive assessment to inform their practice, assess impact of the therapeutic intervention and to communicate with families and other professionals about the needs of the child.

For further information about Thrive please see our resources page.