Trauma Informed Approach

Our school uses Trauma-informed approaches to working with students with the aim of understanding how trauma can impact development, learning, and behaviour. Our staff think about what student behaviour may be telling them and use this to inform practice. Our school’s culture is therefore for staff to reflect on our pastoral and teaching practices to provide the needed support for students who may be experiencing trauma.

Our school uses the PACE model which is expanded on below.

Playfulness

A light-hearted, relaxed, and playful attitude. Helps the child feel connected within their relationship. Helps the child experience fun and love.

Acceptance

Accepting the child for who they are and not what they achieve is very important. It is important to make the child aware that it is their behaviour that is unacceptable, not them as a person. The child needs to feel liked and accepted for who they really are.

Curiosity

Figuring out what is going on. Understand the meaning behind the behaviour.

• Wonder about the child.
• Wondering with the child.

Make best guesses about the inner experience of the child.

Empathy

This is one of the most important aspects of the PACE approach.

To understand a child’s needs you have to be able to “step into their shoes”.

Empathy allows an individual to feel their feelings and know that their feelings have been heard and are valid. You may not agree with their feelings and opinions, which is ok but by listening you are supporting them to not suppress their feelings, which is crucial to positive mental health.

Think about your relationships in your own life. Do you open up to people who are harsh and do not listen to you? Or people who listen, are accepting of you, and value you as a person?