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For Professional Referrers

Information for Commissioners & Schools

Specialist one-to-one tutoring, mentoring and SEND support for children and young people who require personalised educational provision.

This page is for schools, local authorities and professional referrers seeking specialist one-to-one tutoring, mentoring and SEND support. It explains what we do, how referrals work and the standards you can expect from Thrive.

SEND & SEMH
EHCP Experienced
Enhanced DBS Checked
Outcomes Reported

Provision built around children who need something more individual

Thrive delivers personalised one-to-one tutoring and mentoring for children and young people with SEND, EBSA and SEMH needs — working alongside schools, SENCOs and local authority teams rather than duplicating the support already in place.

We are most often asked to support children for whom a mainstream classroom, on its own, is not currently working. That might be because of additional needs, anxiety, time out of education, or a placement that has yet to be confirmed. In every case, we start with the individual child.

We support both short-term interventions and longer-term commissioned provision.

  • Children and young people with SEND, including those with EHCPs
  • Pupils with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs
  • Children experiencing emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA)
  • Pupils who are school-avoidant or currently out of school
  • Children awaiting a placement or EHCP assessment
  • Looked after children and care leavers
  • Learners who simply require individualised, relationship-based provision
SEN & SEND Tutoring →

"Thrive provided excellent support for one of our most vulnerable pupils. The tutor built a genuine relationship with him and the progress was clear to see within weeks."

SENCO, Primary School, West Midlands

"Professional, responsive and truly child-centred. We have commissioned Thrive across several placements and would not hesitate to recommend them."

Commissioning Manager, Local Authority

How we work with the children you refer

Relationship-Based Support

For many children, the barrier to progress is not academic — it is confidence, trust and engagement. We build the relationship first, because learning follows once a child feels safe and understood.

Personalised Matching

We take time to understand each child's profile, strengths and what has and hasn't worked before, then carefully match them with a tutor or mentor whose experience fits — not just whoever is available. Read how matching works.

Child-Centred Planning

Provision is shaped around the child's individual needs and goals — and, where one exists, aligned to their EHCP targets and outcomes — rather than fitted to a generic template.

Multi-Agency Collaboration

We work best when everyone is connected. We liaise with the school, SENCO, social worker and family so that provision is joined up around the child and contributes to the wider plan, not separate from it.

Educational Engagement

Our aim is always re-engagement with learning. We rebuild motivation and confidence step by step, supporting children to reconnect with education and, where appropriate, with school.

Trauma-Informed Practice

For children with SEMH needs and experience of adversity, we take a trauma-informed approach — patient, consistent and emotionally sensitive — building trust before academic progress.

From first enquiry to first session — a clear, simple process

1

Initial Enquiry

Get in touch with a brief outline of the child and what you are hoping to achieve. We aim to respond promptly. The school referral process and commissioning routes are explained in more detail on their own pages.

2

Review & Matching

We review the child's profile, confirm whether we can offer a suitable match, and carefully select a tutor or mentor whose experience and approach fits the child's specific needs.

3

Provision Begins

Sessions start at a pace that suits the child, delivered online or face-to-face. The early focus is on building the relationship and establishing engagement before moving forward.

4

Monitoring & Reporting

Progress is tracked, documented and shared. You receive regular, structured reports suitable for EHCP annual reviews, pupil premium audits, PEP reviews and commissioning evidence — and we adapt provision as the child develops.

Make an Enquiry →

Safeguarding is central to everything we do

The safety and wellbeing of every child we work with is paramount. We never place unvetted individuals with children or young people, and our processes are designed to give commissioners and schools confidence from the outset.

  • All tutors and mentors hold an enhanced DBS certificate, verified before placement
  • Right-to-work verified before any placement begins
  • Safer recruitment practices applied to every tutor and mentor
  • Provision delivered within our robust safeguarding policies
  • Clear expectations around professional conduct and boundaries

We are happy to share our safeguarding documentation as part of any commissioning process. Read more about how we work with schools.

Standards you can expect

Enhanced DBS

Confirmed for every tutor and mentor before placement

Safer Recruitment

Right-to-work verified and credentials checked before placement

Safeguarding Policies

All provision delivered within our robust safeguarding policies

Professional Conduct

Clear expectations and boundaries for every member of our team

What our reporting covers

Goal Setting

Clear, individual goals agreed at the outset — aligned to EHCP targets where one exists

Progress Reviews

Regular reviews of how the child is progressing against their goals

Session Reporting

Documented session records that build a clear picture over time

Stakeholder Communication

Updates shared with the school, the family and the commissioning team

Outcome Tracking

Evidence suitable for annual reviews, pupil premium audits and PEP reviews

Clear evidence, shared with everyone around the child

We are here to make a measurable difference, and we believe commissioners and schools should be able to see it. Progress is tracked, documented and shared throughout — not just at the end.

Our reports are structured to be genuinely useful to the people who need them: suitable for EHCP annual reviews, pupil premium audits, looked after children personal education plan (PEP) reviews and commissioning evidence requirements. Read more about how progress is measured and reported.

Where the picture changes, we adapt the provision. We don't coast — we keep working until we find what helps each individual child.

Discuss Reporting →

Commissioned by professionals, delivered around children, built with families

Families are central to a child's success. Even where provision is commissioned and arranged through professional routes, the people who know the child best are their parents and carers — and we work alongside them throughout.

Thrive does not operate as a private, parent-funded tutoring service. Most children come to us through a referral from their school or local authority, and provision is commissioned through those professional routes. Parents and carers remain welcomed and involved — kept informed of progress and part of the conversation about what helps their child.

If a family approaches us directly, we are happy to talk through the options and point them towards the right route — usually a conversation with their SENCO, social worker or local authority SEND team. Read our information for families.

Make an Enquiry →

"Since working with Thrive, our son has gone from dreading school to actually enjoying it. The difference in his confidence has been remarkable."

Parent of a Year 5 pupil

"We've used Thrive for pupil premium intervention for two years. The quality is consistently high and the reporting gives us exactly what we need for our evidence file."

Deputy Headteacher, Secondary School

Online UK-wide, and face-to-face across England

We deliver online sessions across the UK, with face-to-face tutoring and mentoring available in many areas of England. Our active operating areas include Kent, Hampshire and South Gloucestershire.

Questions from commissioners & schools

Who can refer a child to Thrive? +

Most children are referred by their school or local authority. SENCOs, virtual schools, EHCP teams, social workers, inclusion leads and alternative provision leads can all make an enquiry. Provision is commissioned through professional routes, and we work alongside the family throughout.

How are tutors and mentors vetted? +

All tutors and mentors are qualified professionals who hold an enhanced DBS certificate verified before placement and are right-to-work checked. We never place unvetted individuals with children or young people, and we work within our robust safeguarding policies.

What kind of progress reporting do you provide? +

We provide regular, structured progress reports suitable for EHCP annual reviews, pupil premium audits, looked after children personal education plan (PEP) reviews and commissioning evidence requirements.

Can you support pupils who are not attending school? +

Yes. We provide flexible provision for pupils who are unable to access mainstream education, including those experiencing emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), those with medical needs, those awaiting EHCP assessment, and those at risk of exclusion.

How quickly can provision begin? +

We aim to respond promptly and can move quickly when needed. Once we have reviewed the child's profile and confirmed a suitable match, provision can begin at a pace that suits the child.

Let's talk about the children you're trying to support

Whether you're a school, a local authority or another professional referrer, get in touch to discuss your support requirements. We aim to respond promptly.