HEADING 1

Impact of Sessions

We are very keen to ensure that Thumbs Up is having the highest impact that we possibly can achieve. We have several ways to measure impact, including 'checking in' with children who have received Thumbs Up over the last few years, to see how they still utilise the skills they learnt from us. However, on a programme to programme basis since we began, we have been asking the children how they feel in session 1 and session 5 and creating 'word clouds', however, we have decided to make a change, as you will see below, the top bar chart will indicate the 'scores' for the children in session 1 and the lower chart with be for session 6:-

Please note that not all charts will appear here, as often we are restrained by time and availability, however there will be information about the imapct of Thumbs Up available by request

SPRING 2022

Please request impact reports for this term. Impact will resume online in summer term.

AUTUMN 2021

Poulton Lancelyn Primary School

22nd October 2021

As always we have a fabulous response from the children at Poulton Lancelyn. We have spent six weeks with two year 4 classes, with the delightful teachers - Mrs Swift and Mrs Higgins-Carter, it was a sad day when we left, but it is lovely to know that hopefully we will be working with these children again when they are in year 5:-

SUMMER 2021

Greasby Junior School

14th July 2021

We have loved our time with Greasby, even when we had to deliver the final session online to one class and the other in-school. We feel that the children gained a lot of much needed support as they make the transition to secondary school, particularly as many of the children were potentially finishing their all important year 6, being at home:-

Poulton Lancelyn Primary School

14th July 2021

We just about managed to finish at Poulton Lancelyn with self-isolation and all the concerns in place. We were delighted to do so however, as they really are just fabulous children, and we know that they are all going to go and do amazing things. Thank you for the feedback:-

Bidston Avenue Primary School

14th July 2021

The wonderful Bidston Avenue as always deliver on hard work and fun and kindness during the sessions. As with all our year 6 groups at this time of year, we don't have a huge impact, but we had a fabulous response, and know that the work we have done with the children from both classes has really helped. Good luck:-

Barnston Primary School

14th July 2021

Due to self-isolaing reasons on Team Thumbs Up's part, we had originally been delivering the sessions in groups of three, however, we had to have the last one as a full group of over 40 children, the behaviour was exemplary as always. Usually as we progress towards the end of the school year with year 6, the impact tends to level out as the nerves kick in, but we were delighted with the scores from Barnston, and thank them very much for their hard work:-

Thornton Hough Primary School

27th May

It was an emotional end to our sessions with a fabulous year 6 class, some of the children we have been working with for a number of years. We know that these amazing children are going to fly high at secondary school. We will miss you all very and can't wait to hear about how you've changed the world as you get older. You will note that there has been a down turn in the ability of the children to talk about their emotions and feelings; sadly at the moment, this seems to be quite a trend particularly with our year 6 children. We will be addressing this in this half-term and on to the new school year. But don't forget - keeeeeeep talking!

Poulton Lancelyn Primary School

18th May

Please see below the fabulous feedback from two year 4 classes from Poulton Lancelyn. We were somewhat cautious getting back into school after lockdown and we did give more focus on anxiety etc that perhaps we have done before, but these children have surpassed everything we felt we could achieve. Well done to each and every one of you:-

AUTUMN 2020

Poulton Lancelyn Primary School

20th October 2020

This was our first visit to a school since February, and it was lovely to see some familiar faces that we have worked with before. We are so pleased that we were able to instil some fabulous sleep techniques that has seen a huge improvement in their sleep habits. Plese take a look at the feedback from these two wonderful year 5 pupils:-

SUMMER TERM 2020

No feedback - lockdown

SPRING TERM 2020

Avalon School

7th February 2020

We have so enjoyed our five sessions very much with this class of year 5 children. The children have responded very well to the strategies we have given them, and with the support of the fabulous teachers, we know that they will continue to utilise these skills to enhance their wellbeing:-

Greasby Junior School

5th February 2020

What an amazing five weeks with two fabulous year 3 classes. We delivered a bespoke programme based around the Essential Life Skills programme, but ensuring it was delivered in a very simplistic way to ensure that even at their young age, they get the most possible from the sessions:-

AUTUMN TERM 2019

Dawpool Primary School

13th December 2019

We have had a fabulous five weeks with the year 5 children and a group of years 3/4 (in a small group). We have been overwhelmed with the wonderful response from the children, and it was lovely to be able to enjoy our last working day before christmas with these amazing children. We really feel that the children absorbed the strategies so well, and we really had such a lovely mix of the 'serious stuff' with lots of fun too!

Brackenwood Junior School

2nd December 2019

We have had two fabulous classes over the last few weeks, delivering our Essential Life Skills programme with the year 6 children from Brackenwood. What amazing sessions we have had, with some wonderful insight from the children, we will miss our Tuesday mornings at Brackenwood, and hope to see all the children again soon. Take a look at session 1 vs session 5, we are pleased to see some improvement in certain improtant areas:-

Greasby Junior School

23rd October 2019

We have been so lucky lately with our two new schools - Mount and Greasby, both just fabulous. These two year 6 classes at Greasby have been just fabulous; we were forever running out of time as the children were so engaged and receptive to the work we were doing. We are so happy to already be planning our next visit to Greasby! The feedback below we feel may have been slightly impacted by 11 plus results coming out the day before!

Mount Primary School

17th October 2019

We have had a wonderful time at Mount Primary with these fabulous children. Measuring the impact of our sessions is such an important part of Thumbs Up, and we recognise through these charts from Mount Primary, that we need to still focus a little more on resilience to ensure the children know what to do if/when they come up against difficulties. Thank you to the lovely two year 6 classes for just making our job the best:-

Brackenwood Junior School (year 5)

8th October 2019

What a fabulous five Tuesday mornings we have spent with these wonderful kind children. Not a week went by when we were asked 'how are you?', 'have you had a nice weekend?', what a difference it makes to us - thank you to each and every one of you for such an enjoyable programme. Here is the impact from Brackenwood:-

Grove Street Primary School (year 3)

7th October 2019

We have had a wonderful start to the new school year with these fabulous two year 3 classes at Grove Street. We loved starting our working week with these wonderful children. Here is the impact of the sessions:-

SUMMER TERM 2019

Black Horse Hill Junior School

17th July 2019

We are really pleased with the impact that the sessions have had on the year 6 children at Black Horse Hill. We try so hard to cover as much as we can in the Moving Forwards sessions, and always hope that they have the desired impact. This seems to indicate that it's working! Good luck to these amazing children:-

Bidston Avenue Primary School

17th July 2019

We are delighted to see improvements in the subjects we assess for impact, however, it is very apparent that there is still work to do with some of our schools in the children being able to discuss their emotions and feelings with others. We will continue to encourage the children and hope that we can crack this difficult area. We have loved our time at Bidston Avenue, a really good finish to our summer! Here is the impact from two different classes of year 6 at Bidston Avenue:-

St Bridget's Primary School

15th July 2019

Five weeks has flown by with the wonderful year 6 at St Bridget's. We are so pleased as the difference in their final 'chart', showing that their ability to communicate any problems with people has improved, as this was certainly an area we had to work on. We are excited to be working all year round at St Bridget's next year. Here is their chart:-

Rock Ferry Primary School

12th July 2019

As always, our time at Rock Ferry has been really enjoyable. We have had some wonderful feedback from these fantastic children and we are so excited as to what the future holds for them. We are will be back at Rock Ferry over the course of the next year and can't wait to meet all the new fabulous Rock Ferry children. And what a difference we can see on their impact chart:-

Dawpool Primary School

15th May 2019

We have spent five fabulous weeks with this year 5 class at Dawpool. In the first session we recognised that the resilience and ability to communicate problems to others was to be our focus with teh children, and we are so pleased to see an upturn. However, due to our measuring impact tool, we can now report back to the teaching staff in order for them to focus on the continued improvement in these areas. Well done all of you:-

SPRING TERM 2019

Grove Street Primary School

24th March 2019

We have had a fabulous five weeks at Grove Street, in fact it is Grove Street that prompted the change to changing the way we measure the impact of our sessions, and I believe this to be a fantastic reflection of the work we have done at this wonderful school, Team Thumbs Up were pretty overwhelmed at the progress we have made:-

AUTUMN TERM 2018

Parkgate Primary School

12 December 2018

What a six weeks we have had with these fabulous children from Parkgate. We were lucky enough to have an extra week squeezed in amongst the Essential Life Skills Programme looking at different aspects of mental health and wellbeing. We have enjoyed the sessions immenseley - as we always do at Parkgate. A fabulous word cloud I am sure you will agree:-

Whitefield Primary School

7th December 2018

Thank you to the wonderful year 6 children from Whitefield. Louise and Cath have enjoyed their time with the children immensely and can't wait to be back in the summer term to deliver the transition work. Fabulous word cloud below:-

Grove Street Primary School

30th November 2018

Thank you to the wonderful Grove Street for a great five week programme. Always a pleasure to work in this fabulous school, and we can't wait to be back at Grove Street after new year to work with the rest of Key Stage 2. We are also glad we are back with the year 6 children in the summer to work a little harder on these anxieties that are still in place surrounding the rest of year 6 and into year 7:-

Riverside Primary School

11th October 2018

Our first word cloud of this school year, and a welcome revist to Riverside Primary School. It is nice to see that our sessions have helped with some of the concerns that the children had initially:-

SUMMER TERM 2018

Woodchurch C of E Primary School

20th July 2018

Our final school of this school year and what a way to finish, some very inspiring and unique children...and all a bit nutty (in the nicest way!). Some nerves still in place here at Woodchurch, but I know that if the children take all the strategies forward with them, they will continue to grow into the well-rounded and successful people we know they can be:-

St Bridget's C of E Primary School

13th July 2018

Back to where it all began - St Bridget's, we have absolutely loved our five sessions with the fabulous year 6, it has been lovely to see these nervous children flourish into these excited and confident children now looking forward to secondary school. We can't wait to see you all again, and know you are going to be true assets to the secondary schools you attend. Look at this fabulous word cloud and the huge turnaround from session 1 to session 5:-

Thornton Hough Primary School

12th July 2018

We have now completed our first year at Thornton Hough, working with year 5 and 6 children and some children in small groups, and we are delighted to be returning in the next schools year. Thank you to the wonderful year 6 pupils for their word cloud, there certainly seems to be an increased level of positivity surrounding their move to year 7, good luck to you all:-

Gayton Primary School

11th July 2018

We had the pleasure of working at Gayton Primary School over the last few weeks, and it has been an absolute pleasure. These children seem to have the drive and determination to succeed and it has been a pleasure to work with them. Good luck to you all in year 7, we know you will be simply brilliant! Please see below the word cloud for Gayton:-

Bidston Avenue Primary School

5th July 2018

Our return to one of our very first schools - and as enjoyable as the first! We always enjoy our time here, the teachers and children always welcome us and are always sad to finish. A year group that was already pretty positive about secondary school when we started, but there are still some differences between session 1 and session 5. Thank you all so much and we wish you all the luck in the world at your new school:-

Barnston Primary School (year 5)

23rd May 2018

After a fantastic six week programme with these two wonderful classes of children, (including a lovely mindfulness session), we finished with a very positive word cloud, although it was pretty positive to begin with anyway. Such a lovely year of children, we have had lots of fun amongst the work, it was Louise's first jump into facilitating, and what a great group to start with. Thank you for the lovely comments (well most of them!):-

SPRING TERM 2018

Thornton Hough Primary School (year 5)

29th March 2018

Session 1 vs Session 5

Our first visit to this wonderful school and we are so excited that we are back there in the summer term with the year 6 children. We really have enjoyed our time there working with an amazing group of year 5 children who really have been simply delightful and so respectful and kind to us - what a great way to finish the spring term! A great improvement in the levels of positivity in our Word Cloud and lots of words indicating a lot of happiness - lovely:-

Holy Cross Catholic Primary School (Liverpool)

29th March 2018

Session 1 vs Session 5

We have loved our sessions with Holy Cross - this amazing year 6 class offered the most fantastic insights and have given us things to take forward to other schools - really well done guys. Another wonderful Word Cloud from these children, great to see some positive words there!:-

Parkgate Primary School (year 5)

28th March 2018

Session 1 vs Session 5

Our first visit to Parkgate, and what a lovely class of year 5 children we have worked with. We have had some wonderful feedback from the children, and they were as sad that the sesions had ended as we were. This word cloud certainly shows improvements in the levels of positivity. Thank you to Parkgate, we look forward to seeing you soon:-

St Patrick's Catholic Primary School (year 6)

2nd March 2018

Session 1 vs Session 5

We finished at the wonderful St Patrick's Primary School in Liverpool today, with the gorgeous year 6 children. We are looking forward to being back with them in the summer term to focus on the transition to secondary school. Such amazing children that we have enjoyed working with immenseley and we just know that they're going to continue to thrive and become fabulous secondary school pupils. A great word cloud:-

AUTUMN TERM 2017

St Patrick's Catholic Primary School (year 5)

4th December 2017

Session 1 vs Session 5

We worked with this lovely class of year 5 pupils, our first visit to St Patrick's, and it was fantastic to see some of the positive steps forward the children made. When we discussed 'empathy week', it was heart-warming to see how many children grasped the concept of empathy. We will be returning to St Patrick's to work with the year 6 pupils in the spring term. Fabulous word cloud below:-

Woodlands Primary School

30th November 2017

Session 1 vs Session 5

A return to this wonderful school to work with three groups of year 6 children. Just fantastic children, with so much enthusiasm for the work that Thumbs Up do. Throughout the programme the children inspired and turned some difficult behaviour around fantastically - we are so proud of this. Another fantastic word cloud from the wonderful Woodlands, we will see you in the summer - we will be popping in to see you all!:-

Bedford Drive Primary School

29th November 2017

Session 1 vs Session 5

Our first visit to this amazing school, we have enjoyed our time with this wonderful children so much. There were lots of laughs with these enthusiastic and motivated children and we got an awful lot back from them, including things that we will be taking forward to other schools - the kindness, the compassion, the fun! We will be returning in the summer...and we can't wait. And what a great word cloud too:-

Grove Street Primary School

29th November 2017

Session 1 vs Session 5

We were so pleased to be back at this amazing school. Grove Street children are amongst some of the most resilient and inspirational young people that we have ever had the pleasure to work with. We have enjoyed every minute of our time with all of you and we are so chuffed to bits to be coming back in the summer term too. Thank you for all the wonderful cards, chocolates and even a cake...look out for some of the lovely comments you gave us in your cards on our 'what do people say about Thumbs Up' page. What a fabulous word cloud:-

Black Horse Hill Junior School

16th November 2017

Session 1 vs Session 5

A school that Thumbs Up have perhaps the greatest attachment with because Thumbs Up Sue's own children attended here. We had some big class sizes and very chatty children, but we can quite honestly say we have loved every minute and we don't think we have ever received such a wonderful 'goodbye'. We are so pleased we are to return in the summer to help the children with further transition work, until then, keep up our Thumbs Up work, be kind...and be wonderful. Take a look at this fabulous word cloud:-

Whitefield Primary School

10th November 2017

Session 1 vs Session 5

The biggest of our two lovely Liverpool schools; we saw these fabulous children in two groups. We have enjoyed our time with this school immensely - I don't think we have ever had so many hugs! Just the most amazing children, we are really going to miss each and every one of you guys and we are so pleased that we are coming back in the summer to work again with you. Fantastic word cloud:-

Faith Primary School

10th November 2017

Session 1 vs Session 5

We have so enjoyed our time in Liverpool working at Faith and Whitefield - two amazing schools. This particular word cloud is for Faith; initially when we arrived they children were quite reserved, and as you will see from our word clouds - from session 1 to session 5, things certainly changed! An amazing class of year 6 children, full of confidence and excitement towards their future. We'll see you in the summer!:-

St Alban's Catholic Primary School

18th October

Session 1 vs Session 5

What a way to start the term - our first word cloud of the 2017/18 school year, in session 1 the children were already very positive and focussed for the year ahead, however, we still have seen some fantastic improvements made. What a gorgeous year 6 group they are, and we already know that we are going back in the summer to do some transition work with the children, which makes leaving not quite so sad! Take a look at these wonderful words they have given us about their feelings towards the rest of year 6 and going into year 7:-

SUMMER TERM 2017

St Bridget's Primary School

20th July 2017

Session 1 vs Session 4

We have loved working at St Bridget's again, one of our very early schools. What a fabulous year 6 (two classes), we have worked with, so positive and driven towards the move to secondary school and it has been a pleasure to hear all their excitement towards the changes ahead. Good lucky to each and every one of you, don't forget - if you didn't get a pen, you can ask me for one from the contact page! (really sorry about that!). Here is another great St Bridget's word cloud, well done guys, have a fabulous summer:-

Woodlands Primary School

19th July 2017

Session 1 vs Session 4

It is always sad to say 'goodbye' to our year 6 pupils, but there were some amongst these children at Woodlands that we have worked with in a small group as well as with their class, and we would like to wish them and all their classmates the very best of luck for the future. A very inspiring school, whom does so so much for others, it's certainly been amazing to see this, and we are so pleased to be invited to work again at Woodlands in the autumn term. Here is their word cloud - really positive, well done all of you, good luck:-

Rock Ferry Primary School - year 6

18th July 2017

Session 1 vs Session 4

Well today came the end of our working with Rock Ferry for this year; we have worked with year 4, 5, and 6, we've worked with parents and carers and the teacher staff too, and we have enjoyed every moment of it - it's always such a pleasure. Year 6 did not disappoint, just as enthusiastic and inspiring as the other year groups too. The children have made incredibly progress in the four weeks we have worked with them and for that we are so pleased and proud. Really well done. Take a look at this wonderful word cloud:-

Bidston Avenue Primary School

17th July 2017

Session 1 vs Session 4

Our third year with this fantastic school working with the year 6, and this year didn't fail to disappoint. Another fantastic group of children, and I am really hoping that they take the techniques on board as they move towards their secondary school, because by starting life at such an amazing school has given them such a good start in life. Well done to all the children, and thank you for making Thumbs Up's visit to your school such an enjoyable one. Here is the word cloud, however, week 1 was already pretty positive!:-

Cathcart Street Primary School

17th July 2017

Session 1 vs Session 5

We have worked at Cathcart Street over a period of months for five sessions - a fabulous school with such enthusiastic children. Our sessions have been filled with a few nerves but also excitement towards secondary school, and I hope over the course of the sessions we've been able to reduce those fears and enable the children to think and feel more positively. I think this word cloud shows that there have certainly been improvements made. Good luck all of you:-

Black Horse Hill Junior School

14th July 2017

Session 1 vs Session 4

Always a pleasure to be back at Black Horse Hill, and this year 6 did not disappoint. Amongst all the hard work we have done, we have laughed together too, and that is so important. To hear how positive and how many 'thumbs up' the children at Black Horse Hill gave induction day was fantastic. The children here are so much fun, but are happy to focus and listen when the need arises. Remember, you have had an amazing opportunity to start life at this wonderful school, keep on going, pushing forward, and being 'you'. Good luck to you all, and another lovely positive word cloud to finish with:-

St Joseph's Primary School, Wallasey

13th July 2017

Session 1 vs Session 4

We presented our first session at this school quite a few months ago, and have spread the sessions over a period of months, this has worked well for these fabulous children. It was wonderful to see the children following induction day and hearing about the positivity that they are now experiencing. Such respectful and understanding children - that we know will go far in life, as they seem to have the determination to make good things happen for themselves - really well done, all of you, good luck at your new schools, you are going to be amazing. I didn't think the session 1 word cloud could get much more positive, but it has, take a look:-

Woodchurch C of E Primary School

13th July 2017

Session 1 vs Session 4

We always feel a little bit sad when we finish at schools - particularly with year 6 as we know we may not see them again, but today we had a good feeling that this lovely year 6 class are going to fly at their new schools. They have been so receptive to the work we have done, and it has been very apparent that they have taken many aspects of the programme 'on board'. Today - once again, they didn't let us down, take a look at this amazing word cloud, and notice the difference from session 1; the children attended their induction day yesterday which I feel has helped with their levels of positivity, but using words such as 'aspirational' and 'looking forward' is just so fantastic - so no heavy hearts here today at Thumbs Up, just excitement for the bright futures of these wonderful children - well done:-

Gayton Primary School

7th July 2017

Session 1 vs Session 4

Today we finished at this wonderful school, such compassionate and kind children, we really felt they were very receptive to the work we did with them, and now they seem to be armed with the appropriate techniques that will take them forward into secondary school. Thank you so much to Gayton for having us at your school, and thank you to the children for being so amazing and respectful towards us. We know you are going to do so well at your new schools, remember what we have learnt and you are going to fly! Take a look at this wonderful word cloud, although the children were already pretty positive, it's lovely to see that there is always improvements to be made:-

Rock Ferry Primary School - year 4

16th June 2017

Session 1 vs Session 5

Like Rock Ferry year 5 children, we have delivered five sessions of our all new Essential Life Skills Programme, and just like the year 5's - they were all fantastic, and we had such an amazing time working with all the children. So RFPS year 4, thank you for making us feel so welcome and thank you for being so kind and respectful - and you inspired us week after week with your kindness towards us and each other and your fantastic teachers. Thank you also of course to Mrs Haley and Mr Smith for their support and good humour during our sessions - it made them even more enjoyable! Take a look at this wonderful word cloud below:-

Rock Ferry Primary School - year 5

9th June 2017

Session 1 vs Session 5

We have worked with these wonderful two groups of children for five sessions - introducing our new Essential Life Skills Programme to them, and wow, we couldn't have asked for a better group of children. What inspirational, kind and hard working children you are. You welcomed us every week so fantastically, it has been such a pleasure to work with you. And well - take a look at this word cloud, what a difference in five weeks; but now, the most important thing is to remember... to carry on working hard with the skills we have been teaching you, and we just know that you are all going to be even more amazing than you already are! Also a big thank you to Mrs Drysdale and Mr Thomas for being so supportive and passionate about the work we were doing. Take a look below:-

Barnston Primary School

26th May 2017 Session 1 vs Session 6

Wow, what an amazing six sessions we have had with this wonderful year 5 group - we have had the best time with you guys, the respect and compassion you show for each other is so brilliant to see. We know we will see you again soon, and we can't wait already. Take a look at this amazing word cloud, what progress we have made, from some very anxious and worried children to these super confident, resilient youngsters! See you soon:-

Poulton Lancelyn Primary School

24th May 2017 Session 1 vs Session 4

Our first visit to this fabulous school; we have presented our year 6 transition programme to two wonderful groups of year 6 pupils. We have so enjoyed getting to know you, giving you some invaluable life skills and of course, the laughs - which we have done, a lot! Remember all we told you - be nice, be kind - to yourself and to others, and you are all going to be amazing. Please take a look at our word cloud - don't forget, this was already good in the first week, but we can still see some definite improvements and new words as well. Good luck at your new school:-

Overchurch Junior School

12th May 2017 Session 1 vs Session 4

This fabulous year 6 group have made such headway in their levels of worries and anxieties towards year 7. We are so proud of the hard work they have put in and wish you all the luck in the future and hopefully we will see you again sometime. Please take a look at this wonderful word cloud, how wonderful:-

AUTUMN TERM 2016

Barnston Primary School

30th November Session 1 vs Session 4

This wonderful year 6 certainly turned a lot of the negative feelings and emotions they were experiencing at the beginning of the sessions in comparison to the end. I am really pleased with the way the children interacted with both myself and Debbie and with each other. We witnessed great compassion amongst the children and some children asking really relevant and mature questions to help them into the future. Enjoy the Word Cloud:-

St Alban's Catholic Primary School

7th November Session 1 vs Session 4

What a lovely final session we had with the children today, they responded so well to the final techniques we worked on, and of course they loved the pens!! Thank you St Alban's year 6 for being such a wonderful group (or three groups!), hopefully we will see you again soon. Take a look at the word cloud, there are some signficant positive improvements since week 1, and we felt that the negative feelings that the children were experiencing at the beginning have definately developed into a great level of determination:-

Waverton Primary School

21st October Session 1 vs Session 4

Thank you to a lovely year 6 class for all their hard work and enthusiasm and it was such a pleasure to work at our first Chester school. Take a look at this amazing Word Cloud, and a really big 'well done' to the wonderful children:-

This school respectfully requested to keep its identity private

20th October Session 1 vs Session 4

A lovely advance from session 1 to session 4. Really pleased with how the children progressed:-

SUMMER TERM 2016

Bidston Avenue Primary School

12th July Session 1 vs Session 4

I have loved my time at Bidston Avenue (as I did last year too), what a fantastic school it is! The children are amongst some of the politest I have ever met and they truly have been a real credit to both themselves and to their school. I wish each and every one of you the best of lucky and your new schools, I just know you are going to be fine. Take a look at your Word Cloud - you were already pretty positive in the first session, and this has carried on to our last session, but one thing is for sure - you certainly found a lot more words!!! Good luck guys:-

Barnston Primary School

30th June Session 1 vs Session 4

What an amazing programme with this fabulous school. I was so impressed from week 1 with the positivity surrounding the children, but week 4 blew me away with the strength that these children are showing as they are making this next step to secondary school. Thank you year 6 of Barnston for welcoming Thumbs Up and being so kind to us and to Debbie in her very first Thumbs Up programme, and of course Jemma too. We all really hope to catch up again soon.

SPRING TERM 2016

St Alban's Catholic Primary School Year 4

3rd March Session 1 vs Session 4

Well, what can I say about this amazing year 4 at St Alban's. I have enjoyed each and every session with these gorgeous children and I don't think I've ever had so many hugs! Thank you for making my job the best job ever! Can't wait to see you all again...each and every one of you. Have a look at the busiet Word Cloud ever produced, it reflects this year group enormously - they just had so much to say! Enjoy:-

Orret's Meadow Primary School Year 4

3rd February Session 1 vs Session 4

I have so enjoyed my time working with these amazing year 4 children over the last four weeks. They all face the challenges they have with smiles on their faces and a positivity that is so infectious that I walk out with the biggest warmth in my heart. Thank you all, looking forward to working with you all again soon.

AUTUMN TERM 2015

St Anne's Primary School

3rd December Session 1 vs Session 4

There are so many wonderful things I can say about this year 6 group from St Anne's, but I told them all today! They are an amazing group of children, and I can quite honestly say that I enjoyed working with them so much, and the way some of the children have 'come out of themselves' during the session has been quite overwhelming, and I cannot thank the school enough for giving me the privilege of working with these children. Please take a look at their Word Cloud, there are a lot of nerves and worries amongst these children, and I feel that has been reflected in their session 4 'cloud', but I am hoping to be given the opportunity of undertaking some further work at St Anne's and to be able to continue to make improvements to these negative feelings:-

Orrets Meadow Primary School - Year 5

1st December Session 1 vs Session 4

I think the children know how much I've enjoyed the sessions with them, some of them may have even got more than one pen! Just eleven children in this group and each and every one of them contributed so well to the sessions, and I noticed some definite positive changes within some of the children. I am so proud to have been able to work with you, and look forward to seeing you again next year! Happy Christmas. See how you Word Cloud looks below:-

Black Horse Hill Junior School

27th November Session 1 vs Session 4

I have really enjoyed the time I have spent with this wonderful year 6 group at Black Horse Hill. I have great fondness for this school as it is where my children went, and I am so pleased to see the children are as enthusiastic and just generally lovely as my own children were there. I am so pleased to have been invited back to BHHJS to undertake some more work on the transition in the summer of 2016. I think you will agree that their Word Cloud speaks for itself - full of positivity from week 1 to week 4 - well done. Also I would like to thank Miss Armstrong and Mr Edmondson for supporting me throughout the sessions:-

Grove Street Primary School

5th November Session 1 vs Session 4

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Grove Street, what an amazing group of children they were. I don't think any school has every asked so many questions (not all about the programme!), and thank you to them for the lovely card. I really hope I get the chance to work with them again before they leave Grove Street. Please take a look at their Word Cloud:-

Orrets Meadow Primary School

3rd November Session 1 vs Session 4

Many thanks to this wonderful year 6 at Orrets, who engaged so much with the programme that we frequently ran out of time! But it was such a pleasure you work with these amazing children, and I am so lucky that I will be seeing them all again in the summer term just before they move to secondary school. Please take a look at their superb Word Cloud:-

St Bridget's Primary School

5th October Session 1 vs Session 4

Many thanks to a wonderful year 6 at St Bridget's. There are so many enthusiastic children at this school, who I feel were extremely receptive to the programme. And I really think that tells with their Word Cloud, the positive words far outweigh the negative ones on the week 4 Word Cloud. Well done all of you, I am super proud. And a big thank you to Mrs Neal and Mrs Carver for their support. Please take a look below:-

Rock Ferry Primary School

2nd October 2015

Session 1 vs Session 4

Well I have finally got your Word Cloud finished (sorry for the delay). I am really pleased with the children of Rock Ferry managed the programme. They were extremely enthusiastic and loved joining in with the group discussions, they made some really good points and gave great feedback. And thank you to Mrs Lavender and Mrs Sherlock for all their support. Please take a look at how Rock Ferry year 6 progressed, I am delighted to see so many positive words in week 4. Well done:-

Park Primary School

1st October 2015 Session 1 vs Session 4

My second term at Park, and I can quite honestly say it has been just as much as a pleasure than last term. Some incredible children with so much warmth and fun to share with me - it was truly a pleasure to work here, I hope to see you all again soon. And many thanks to the teachers for their continued support of the programme. Please take a look at the word cloud to see if the worries have changed since week one:-

St George's Primary School

1st October 2015 Session 1 vs Session 4

Today I finished at St George's - the largest amount of children I have worked, with in the region of 100 children. I was quite worried at first when I saw how many were in each group, but their behaviour and focus on the programme has been superb, and I can quite honestly say it has been a pleasure being there. There are a lot of very special children here. Also I would like to thank all the teachers for their support too. Now take a look at this word cloud, and I'm sure you will agree, there are some pretty positive words there:-

St Alban's Primary School

29th September 2015 Session 1 vs Session 4

Today I finished my first programme for autumn term - at St Alban's Primary School, such a lovely group of children, and I can quite honestly say it's been an absolute pleasure being there. I am really pleased to see 'confident' making an appearance on their second word cloud - well done to all of you:-

SUMMER TERM 2015

Park Primary School

10th July Session 1 vs Session 4

I thought that the children from Park found a lot of words in week 1, but take a look at Week 4!!! I have so enjoyed presenting the programme to these year 6 children - definitely the chattiest of schools I've seen! I have been rewarded by wonderful stories of empathy and acts of kindness that the children displayed to others on induction day on Wednesday. I am so proud of the children and all that they have achieved, and I wish them all the luck in the world for the future:-

Bidston Avenue Primary School

9th July 2015 Session 1 vs Session 4

I think I have received the most words for a Word Cloud ever!! But I just think the children wanted to see me work!! Bidston Avenue has been an amazing school to work at, the response to the empathy and acts of kindness the children displayed towards others on induction day was overwhelming and made me incredibly proud. The children are a real credit to their school. Well done. Please take a look at the enormous Word Cloud they created for week 4:-

Orrets Meadow Primary School

7th July 2015 - Session 1 vs Session 4

It has been a pleasure presenting the programme to Orrets Meadow; such inspiring children who I feel have responded well to the programme. I have been lucky enough to be asked to present the programme to all the children at Orrets in the new school year, if these children are anything like the departing year 6 - I am very lucky! Please take a look at their very different week 1 to week 4 Word Cloud:-

Rock Ferry Primary School

2nd July 2015 - Session 1 vs Session 4

Two lovely groups of children with so much potential to do well at their new schools, it has been a real pleasure to work with them over the past few weeks. I think 'swagilicious' has to be the best way to describe the way the children feel about moving to their new schools!! Well done guys. Have a look how the children have changed in the four sessions:-

Grove Street Primary School small year 6 group

2nd July 2015 - two hour session - beginning vs end

I had the pleasure of working just with a small group of year 6 children with a condensed version of the full programme. I hope in our short two hour session I made headway with the children - their response was great and it was a pleasure to work with them, take a look at the difference even just two hours can make:-

St Bridget's Primary School year 6

30th June 2015 - Session 1 vs Session 4

The children of St Bridget's began in session 1 with a lot of anxiety and worry towards the transition, they were really receptive to the programme and I believe made quite some headway in improving their own self-confidence, and putting their own coping strategies in place for the future. I am so proud of all the children and I thank them for making Thumbs Up feel so welcome:-

Mersey Park Primary School year 6

26th June 2015 - Session 1 vs Session 4

I am so pleased as to how not only the positivity of the words has improved but also the quantity of words...the children certainly 'came out of the themselves' by session 4. Well done to each and every one of you:-

St Alban's Catholic Primary School year 6

25th June 2015 - Session 1 vs Session 4

Really proud of the noticeable change from week 1 to week 4 for this small group of year 6 children from St Alban's. I feel they really took on board some of the techniques that I taught them, and if they utilise them into their new schools, they will do really well. Very well done:-