Three Years Later: What Building Thrive Has Taught Us About Children, Families and Education

Writer: Louise Walker, Co-Founder

Three years ago, Anna and I unlocked the doors to Thrive for the very first time.

Like most people starting something new, we had plans.

We had ideas about project-based learning, outdoor education, creative opportunities and how we wanted children to experience learning differently.

We thought we were creating an educational provision.

Looking back now, we realise we were building something much bigger.

Over the last three years, hundreds of conversations with children and parents have challenged our assumptions about education, reshaped our thinking and reminded us, time and time again, that learning is only one part of helping a child flourish.

As we come to the end of our third year, we wanted to share some of the biggest lessons Thrive has taught us.

Not because we've got all the answers.

But because we think the conversation around education is changing, and perhaps these reflections will resonate with other families too.

We Thought We Were Building Education. We Were Actually Building Belonging In Home Education

When people first hear about Thrive, they often ask us about the curriculum.

"What subjects do you teach?"

"How do children learn maths?"

"Do you follow the National Curriculum?"

They're good questions.

But after three years, we've realised they aren't the questions that matter most.

Because before many children are ready to learn, they need something much more fundamental.

They need to feel safe.

They need to feel known.

They need to feel like they belong.

Some of the children who arrive at Thrive haven't lost their ability to learn.

They've simply lost their confidence in themselves.

They've experienced anxiety, struggled within education, felt misunderstood, or spent months believing they aren't capable because learning hasn't looked the way it was expected to.

It has reminded us that confidence isn't the reward at the end of learning.

Very often, it's the starting point.

Children Rarely Need Fixing

One thing we've become increasingly passionate about is changing the language around children.

It's easy to describe children as struggling, behind, disengaged or refusing education.

But those words rarely tell the whole story.

Instead, we've met children who are wonderfully creative.

Kind.

Funny.

Curious.

Inventive.

Practical.

Thoughtful.

Children who can spend hours building something extraordinary, creating artwork, solving real-world problems or helping a younger child feel included.

Their strengths simply weren't always visible within the environment they were in.

That's one of the biggest things Thrive has taught us.

Children are rarely broken.

Sometimes the environment simply isn't allowing them to show who they really are.

Behind Every Child Is A Parent Trying Their Best

Perhaps the biggest privilege of running Thrive has been getting to know families.

One conversation repeats itself more than almost any other.

"I feel like I've failed my child."

Sometimes it's said quietly.

Sometimes through tears.

Sometimes after months - or even years - of trying everything they can think of.

Whether a family has chosen home education, is navigating EBSA, waiting for SEND support or simply trying to work out the next step, we've learnt that almost every parent is carrying far more than people realise.

They're balancing appointments, paperwork, financial pressures and uncertainty whilst trying to make the best decisions they can for their child.

If that's you, we hope you know this.

We have never met a parent who wanted the difficult path.

We've met parents who have chosen the path they believed was right because they love their child.

There is an important difference.

Education Is Changing

When we first opened Thrive, many conversations focused on one question.

"How do we get children back into learning?"

Three years later, the conversation feels much broader.

Families are asking bigger questions.

What if my child needs something different?

What if GCSEs aren't the only measure of success?

What if confidence is more important right now than catching up academically?

What if education doesn't have to look the same for everyone?

At the same time, we've watched the wider educational landscape continue to evolve.

Home education has grown.

Alternative provision has become more visible.

There has been increasing recognition of EBSA and emotionally based school avoidance.

There has also been uncertainty.

Changing government priorities.

Different approaches between local authorities.

Questions about funding, regulation and what alternative education should look like in the future.

Like many small organisations, we've learnt to adapt whilst staying true to our values.

We've realised that whilst policies change, children don't.

They still need relationships.

Purpose.

Community.

Adults who believe in them.

Those things never go out of date.

Teenagers Need More Than Qualifications

This year, one conversation kept coming back to us.

"My teenager doesn't want GCSEs."

At first, we thought families were asking about qualifications.

They weren't.

They were asking about hope.

Would their teenager still have opportunities?

Would they still be able to build a meaningful future?

Would there still be a pathway for them?

That conversation became the starting point for our new Teen Learning Hub.

Not because we believe qualifications don't matter.

They absolutely can.

Many young people will continue to thrive through GCSEs, Functional Skills and further education.

But we've also learnt that qualifications alone are not enough.

Teenagers need confidence.

Life skills.

Independence.

Purpose.

Opportunities to discover what they're good at.

For some young people, qualifications will sit alongside those experiences.

For others, they may come later.

And for a small number, they may choose a very different route altogether - through enterprise, vocational learning, practical experience or self-employment.

Success has never been one-size-fits-all.

Perhaps education shouldn't be either.

None Of This Happens Without Great People

If there's one thing we've become even more certain of, it's that buildings don't change children's lives.

People do.

Over the last three years we've been incredibly fortunate to build a team who care deeply about the children they work with.

People who notice the quieter child.

Celebrate the smallest achievements.

Stay calm on difficult days.

And never stop believing in what children are capable of.

Running Thrive has taught us that leadership isn't about having all the answers.

It's about building a culture where everyone shares the same purpose.

We're incredibly proud of the team we've built, and grateful for the care, creativity and dedication they bring every single week.

Becoming A Community Interest Company

One of our biggest milestones this year happened behind the scenes.

We became a Community Interest Company (CIC).

For us, this wasn't just a legal change.

It was a statement about the future.

It reflects the way we've always wanted to work, placing community benefit at the heart of what we do.

Becoming a CIC opens new opportunities to apply for grants, develop bursary funding and continue making Thrive accessible to families who might otherwise never be able to join us.

As Thrive grows, we want that growth to benefit our whole community.

Not just today.

But for many years to come.

Looking Ahead

When we opened our doors three years ago, we hoped we'd create somewhere children enjoyed coming each week.

Today, our ambition is much bigger.

We want to play a small part in changing the conversation around education.

To remind families that different doesn't mean less.

To show that confidence and belonging are every bit as important as qualifications.

To create pathways that recognise children as individuals, not simply exam results.

Most of all, we want every child who walks through our doors to leave believing

something they may not have believed when they arrived.

"I can do this."

Because after three years, that's what we've learnt matters most.

Not just what children know.

But what they believe about themselves.

And we think that's where every meaningful education begins.

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Thinking About Thrive?

Whether you're exploring home education, looking for an alternative educational pathway, or simply wondering whether Thrive might be the right fit for your child, we'd love to welcome you for a visit or a chat.

Our Learning Hub (ages 5–12), Teen Learning Hub (ages 12–16) and Study Hub (14-16) are all designed around the same belief:

Children thrive when they feel safe, known and valued.

→ Book a call or arrange a visit to find out more.