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Thrive at The Donkey Den

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Claire is a qualified licenced Thrive practitioner.

We use a trauma informed approach at The Donkey Den. Recent trauma training, with the Somerset educational psychology service, has given us further understanding and strategies to positively promote key relationships. From this, we are able to create a safe and supportive environment in which children can regulate stress and anxieties whilst engaging in learning activities. 

 

What is Thrive?

 

The Thrive Approach is a dynamic, developmental, trauma-informed, setting approach to meeting the emotional and social developmental needs of all children and young people.  Early identification of emotional development needs, builds resilience, reduces the risk of mental illness, and promotes positive learning within the classroom.

 

Fundamental to the Approach is the finding from neuroscientific research that children's brains develop in response to their experiences in relationships. This means that if we want to support optimal development in children, we need to understand their specific social and emotional needs at each age and then provide them with the right set of experiences and relationships to meet those needs. 

 

Some children have unmet needs from earlier in their development, which are known as ‘developmental interruptions’. These interruptions can make it difficult for children to access learning, manifesting in behaviours such as problems forming relationships with others, difficulties with focusing and staying on task, verbal and physical aggression, agitation, avoidance and zoning out.Positive experiences enhance brain connections, and sustained negative experiences can restrict them. THRIVE aims to compensate for interruptions in emotional development, when they affect a child’s ability to enjoy life and learn.

 

Through observations and the use of the Thrive online program, our licensed Thrive practitioner can select age-appropriate strategies and activities, to support the child’s emotional wellbeing.  

 

By using the Thrive approach, we will:

  • Develop a holistic approach to support children’s mental health and wellbeing.

  • Provide early identification and effective support for children who are experiencing emotional, social, or behavioural difficulties.

  • Provide a safe environment for children to express, explore and learn to manage strong feelings.

  • Support and supply the necessary tools to help build the child’s resilience; to self-soothe and to regulate their emotions.

  • Develop supportive relationships between peers, and between the children and adults in their setting.

  • Provide children with strong foundations that will carry the child into adulthood.

 

What is a THRIVE Action Plan?

An action plan of activities tailored to support a child’s identified social and emotional learning targets.

Our licensed thrive practitioner will work with parents/carers and professionals to assess and evaluate the pupils’s social and emotional development needs to identify strengths and areas for development . The action plan is bespoke to the child and is reviewed regularly to monitor the progress children have made.

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The THRIVE approach incorporates play, creativity and the arts to build healthy, safe and supportive relationships between adults and the children and young people they are working alongside.

At the Donkey Den, all activities are one-to-one designed to help the child feel better about themselves; become more resilient and resourceful; form trusting, rewarding relationships; be compassionate and empathetic; and/or  be able to overcome difficulties and setbacks. 

Activities might include playing in the sand, art and crafts, clay making, exploring situations through role-play or puppets, mindfulness exercises, sensory play or creative projects focusing on the child’s own interests. Our setting is within nature so an outdoor learning experience is always had. 

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For more information about the Thrive Approach, see the website: 

https://www.thriveapproach.com or contact Claire, Thrive practitioner at The Donkey Den

ELSA

(Accessed through Alternative Provision/Education route only)

Caroline and Tasha are both qualified Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs) who are currently working with children in their respective Primary Schools who are experiencing temporary or longer-term additional emotional needs. Their relationships are key in helping children to feel safe and nurtured.

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The ELSA project recognises that children learn better when their emotional needs are also addressed. 

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What areas does an ELSA help with?

  • Loss and bereavement

  • Emotional Literacy

  • Self-esteem

  • Social Skills

  • Friendship issues

  • Relationships

  • Managing strong feelings

  • Anxiety and worries

  • Bullying

  • Conflict

  • Emotional Regulation

  • Growth Mindset

  • Social and therapeutic stories

  • Problem solving

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​​The ELSA intervention is measurable so that we know the child has made progress and the intervention has been successful. We can also see what the next steps might be.This means that there are targets for the ELSA to work towards with the child or young person.

During a session, an ELSA will: Check how the child is and how they have been feeling for the past week. Review the content that was covered in the last session and see if any of the information needs to be revisited. Introduce new content through engaging games and activities. Complete a calming and mindfulness activity followed by a review of the session and a goodbye in a positive way. 

At the Donkey Den, the 1:1 activities will support emotional resilience, social skills and positive mental health in children. 

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For more information about the ELSA approach , see the website: 

https://www.elsa-support.co.uk/what-is-elsa-intervention/

or contact Caroline or Tasha , ELSAs at The Donkey Den

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Mindfulness in Nature

At the Donkey Den we are all mindfulness in nature practitioners having completed an accredited training programme.

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What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention , on purpose, in the present moment , and without judgement. Mindfulness is learned by focusing attention on one specific aspect of your experience at a time.

What is nature based mindfulness?

Mindfulness and nature connection are long standing and highly effective ways to support our wellbeing. When you bring the two together, you have mindfulness in nature. One of the best ways of being mindful in nature is by engaging our senses and focusing on what we can hear, see, feel and smell. When we engage our senses and focus on the ‘here and now’ our heart rate lowers, our breathing slows, and we feel calm. It is important to perceive the world using all of our senses - something that many children are doing less and less as they engage with the digital world, focusing only on their sense of sight and sound.

How does nature supports mental wellbeing and children?

 

Nature creates the perfect conditions for children to be in a calm, focused state. This prepares them for learning about mindful connections. Children who are taught how to be mindful when they are feeling calm, are much more likely to use the tools they have learnt when they are struggling with their emotions.
 

What are the benefits?

 

Being in nature helps children (and adults) focus, and really supports those children who ‘are on the go ‘ and ‘struggle to maintain focus and attention ‘ - the natural environment makes it easier for them to not only concentrate but also to learn new things. Thousands of scientific articles are published each year on mindfulness and the practical benefits. Mindful breathing and mindfulness practices are effective methods for increasing positive emotions, focus , memory, attention and compassion, while decreasing stress and negative emotions.

 

What do we offer at The Donkey Den?
 

Our sessions at the donkey den will include moments of mindfulness as we weave them into our sessions, however we offer full sessions of mindfulness in nature if this is something that is requested.

 

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