Cranford Park C of E School is an Attachment and Trauma Aware school (ATAS). We are acutely aware that we need to support our pupils who have experienced developmental trauma.

Our core team of Miss Portch (SENCO and Designated teacher) and Mrs Suzanna Russell (Deputy headteacher and DDSL) have attended ATAS 10 (Attachment Trauma Aware Schools) training hosted by KCA (Knowledge change Action https://www.kca.training/) As a direct result of this training, the core team then disseminated their training to the wider school staff team.

Some of the aspects covered within the training are:

• Emotion coaching/response styles and how this links to our behaviour policy.

• Attachment styles and accompanying presenting behaviours

• The ‘iceberg’ model

• Dan Hughes’ PACE model

• ‘Five to thrive’ model

• Dan Siegel’s hand model of the brain

• ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)

• ‘Mending Hurts’ (trauma recovery)

Our staff understand the neuroscience behind attachment and trauma that stops vulnerable children from accessing learning. They can therefore draw on this knowledge to:

·       develop the school ethos and culture

·       develop classroom teaching and behaviour management strategies to enable vulnerable or disengaged pupils to make progress

·       build effective relationships with parents, carers and other agencies

·       support effective transitions for vulnerable pupils or those at risk of becoming disengaged

We firmly believe that, in accordance with Maslow’s hierarchy, our children will not be ready to learn until they feel safe and secure. We feel incredibly proud of the trauma-informed approach our staff adopt at this school and feel this is reflected in the learning attitudes and behaviours of our wonderful pupils. We adopt a ‘connect before you correct’ approach to addressing the children’s needs and we are confident that our restorative, reflective approach to the choices the children make is having a positive outcome for the best interests of each and every child within our care.