The John Moore Primary school is located on the Walton Cardiff development just outside of Tewkesbury.

 In recent years, we have recognised the increased well being and mental health needs in our school community and have worked hard to be able to offer a range of support to meet these needs.  We are very proud of our partnership with Bricks2Learn, which we set up and have developed over a number of years. Aly is a highly skilled practitioner and has worked across the year groups in our school, in 1:1 and small groups sessions, to support the children. 

We have been overwhelmed with the impact that these Thera-Build® sessions have had; we have seen an increase in the children’s confidence and self-esteem, their language and literacy skills, fine motor skills, organisational skills, problem solving and their self-regulatory skills.

We pride ourselves in the care and the support that we provide our children and Thera-Build®  is an integral part of our pastoral provision, as our children learn how to communicate their ideas and emotions effectively to others and can feel understood and listened to by the adults around them.  Heather Philcox

Cam Everlands Primary school is is situated close to the centre of Cam, near the town of Dursley. 

At Cam Everlands, the children of our school are at the heart of everything we do.  We strive to be an inspiring, aspirational and exciting place to learn which is innovative and forward thinking, whilst retaining traditional school values.  We work hard to create an inclusive, welcoming environment for our community of children, parents and staff, who work together effectively so that everyone can achieve.

We were first introduced to Aly Thomsen back in 2016 when an external agency arranged for her to support one of our children.  Following the success of this Thera-Build® intervention we asked her to come back to work with other individuals, and Aly is now a regular weekly fixture in our school timetable, working with children from Rec-Y6.  She is both professional and playful, so as a staff we can trust and rely on her, our children thoroughly enjoy their time in her care and her extensive range of resources mean that there are always wonderful LEGO® models being created.

We are delighted to receive this award, which recognises our strong commitment to improving our children's mental health and well-being and look forward to continuing as a partner school with Aly and her Thera-Build® approach.  Sally Latuszka

Hartpury CofE Primary sits in the rural Gloucestershire countryside and is part of the Primary Quest Multi-Academy Trust. 

Having worked with Aly for several years, I am constantly filled with admiration by the care, determination and commitment she pours into Thera-Build® and she and her team have helped so many of our children in the time that I have known her.   

Her practitioners quickly become part of the school staff, showing genuine interest in the community, compassion for the children, and are able to build trust with staff and pupils remarkably quickly,  generating a sense of belonging from the outset.  The children look forward to their weekly slots and are always eager to join in with the sessions. The sense of pride they feel after a build is incredible and to see a child who has struggled for a long time finally beaming with a structure they have created is incredibly powerful. 

These protected pockets of time provide the nurture and connection that our most vulnerable children so desperately need.  Our children often reflect on how much they enjoy their sessions and how calming and supportive they find them.  The hardest part is always saying goodbye, with many asking to take their practitioners with them to secondary school! 

In a climate where budgets are tight and social complexities are high, Thera-Build® is an intervention that is affordable, sustainable, and deeply impactful. 

I am forever grateful for the work Aly and her team do for our children. 

Sarah Hopson