Thrive at Five

During their early years, from pregnancy to five, babies and children are shaped by the relationships, experiences and environment around them. These early experiences profoundly impact a child's development and their future.

In the seven schools in 2 city wards, half of all children were arriving in reception not ready to start learning and progressing through school.

In 2018, the co-founders of Thrive at Five saw the evidence building around the unmet social and emotional, cognitive and physical development needs of babies and young children and felt this knowledge should be turned into action.

They brought together strategic funding partners and other early years experts, to explore the opportunities to collaborate and make the most impact for children and families.

Stoke-on-Trent faces significant socio-economic challenges that hinder early childhood outcomes. Thrive at Five is operating in Abbey Hulton and Bentilee wards – two areas marked by high deprivation, fragmented services, and parental isolation.

We are continuing to involve parents and carers as volunteer parent champions and paid parent champions (called "Parent Connectors") to provide peer support to parents and carers, creating better connections between them and the early years system.

Our Parent Connectors support parents in the community, from conception to reception, providing practical advice and signposting to services that a family might need. Parent Connectors play an important role in engaging with those families who are less likely to seek support.

The Quatrefoil Giving Fund has committed to 3 years of unrestricted funding to help Thrive at Five deliver results for the long-term health, wellbeing, and happiness of society.