Trauma Informed Schools

A trauma informed school is one that is able to support children who suffer with trauma or mental health problems and whose troubled behaviour acts as a barrier to learning. 

 

At Thorngumbald Primary School we place importance on creating a school community that provides predictability for our pupils; they know and understand the routines, day-to-day organisation and expectations. This includes:

 

  • Systematic, whole school teaching approaches.
  • Strong, collective School Ethos and School Values.
  • Weekly timetables.
  • Visual timetables for individual pupils.
  • Agreed Classroom Code of Conduct.
  • Systematic Behaviour Systems.
  • A wide range of Rewards to celebrate effort and success.
  • Appropriate sanctions.
  • Clear routines and organisation for the school day.
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Strategies

In our behaviour strategies, we use restorative approaches. Restorative approaches explain misbehaviour as a breaking of a social bond.

 

They seek:

 

  • To involve all relevant parties to the event.
  • To acknowledge responsibilities.
  • Repair harms.
  • Prompt respect.
  • Strengthen relationships both formal and informal.

 

Within our strategies, we use emotional coaching. 

 

This is a communication strategy, which supports children to self-regulate and manage their stress responses. It is about helping children to become more aware of the emotions they feel, why they happen and how to handle them.

 

We use agreed scripts to support pupils. Agreed scripts help pupils to connect with their feelings and allow staff to place limits on behaviour choices. Scripts encourage both pupils and staff to reflect on the cause of the behaviour. We see all behaviour choices as a means of communication. Staff encourage pupils to ‘name and tame’ their emotions.

Rainbow

We support individuals and groups of pupils by building relationships, acknowledging and investing in their feelings through our:

 

  • School Values.
  • Pastoral Lead.
  • Nurture Room.
  • Meet & Greet Club.
  • Social Club.
  • Anxiety Club.
  • Staff are visible and approachable.
  • Calm corners in classrooms.
  • Wellbeing Warriors.
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Regulation

We teach pupils the importance of regulation; some pupils need support to develop the skills and strategies to manage their emotions and thoughts so that they feel safe. This involves:

 

  • Reputable JIGSAW scheme of work for our successful PSHE Curriculum Meet & Greet Club (at 8.30am).
  • 1:1 support from Nurture Team scaling emotions within a framework from 1-10.
  • Anxiety Groups Social Groups.
  • Calming equipment (e.g. weighted mats, fidget gadgets, physical tasks such as lego and mechano).
  • Identified ‘safe spaces’ for calming techniques.
  • 1:1 Regulation Plans (identified spaces, preferred calming equipment & agreed scripts).

It's good to feel lots of different emotions. All of our emotions are important and help us at different times.

We are learning to self-regulate.