Schools are increasingly recognising how a pupil’s early traumatic experiences can affect their ability to function in the classroom and to learn, and there is a growing consensus that many of the most difficult behavioural challenges faced by teachers result from pupil’s early traumatic experiences. The upside to this is a growing realisation that what schools do about trauma can really make the difference for deeply troubled pupils. Living and learning in safe, non-punitive environments makes a positive difference for trauma survivors.
By taking a trauma-informed approach, which means seeking to understand how the experience of abuse, neglect and abandonment shapes a person’s world view, schools can respond to those behaviours in a way that does not reinforce irrational beliefs, trigger memories of trauma, or cause more trauma.
This one day workshop aims to develop a school wide, trauma-informed perspective so that perspectives on behaviour shift. Small changes in schools’ practices have big effects on our children By integrating trauma-informed practices into daily routines schools can minimize the effects of pre-existing trauma and reduce re-traumatization.
The programme covers these themes:
- Introduction to trauma
- Protective factors and the nature of early attachments
- Trauma and brain development
- Self-regulation and learning
- Empowerment
- Taking care of ourselves (guarding against vicarious trauma)
- Trauma-informed discipline
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