Supporting every child with compassion 💛

We are proud to be a trauma-informed school and a taruma-informed workforce. This is not simply a statement - it’s a heartfelt commitment to improving the learning, mental health and quality of life for every child in our care.

Our vision is clear: No child is invisible. Every child matters and every child deserves to feel safe, seen, understood and supported.

We recognise that more children are arriving at school with increasingly complex emotional and mental health needs. Many have experienced significant adversity in their young lives, often described through the lens of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences). The well-known ACE study (Felitti and Anda) has shown us that unaddressed childhood trauma can have serious and lasting effects on a person’s mental and physical wellbeing. It also showed us that with the right support, the future for these children can look very different. This is why, at Stopsley, we have embraced a trauma-informed approach - because it changes lives.

A whole-school commitment to 'Compassionate Practice' 💛

Being trauma-informed means more than just being aware - it means taking action. Every member of our team has been trained to respond to children with PACEful principles - Playful, Accepting, Curious and Empathic. These trauma-informed core values underpin every interaction, helping children feel safe, respected and connected, especially when they need it most.

At Stopsley, we don’t wait for behaviour or distress to escalate. Instead, we focus on early connection, support and understanding - 'catching children as they are falling, not after they have fallen'. This proactive, compassionate approach helps children process painful life events in real time, with the support of emotionally available, trusted adults.

Emotionally-available adults and daily relational support 💛

At the heart of our trauma-informed work is our commitment to ensuring that every child in need has daily access to at least one emotionally-available adult. These adults are specially trained to:

• Offer warmth, compassion and unconditional positive regard
• Provide clear and consistent boundaries through kind, respectful limit-setting
• Understand children’s attachment needs and life stories
• Create repeated opportunities for children to regulate, relate and reflect

This presence and consistency help children build the trusting relationships they need in order to feel safe and to thrive.

A school culture rooted in kindness and connection 💛

Our 'Relationship policy' sets the tone for the entire school. It ensures that every adult interacts with children through a lens of empathy, patience and respect. There is no shouting, no shaming, no put-downs or criticism - only calm, connection and kindness. We train staff in the art of active listening, understanding and responding with emotional attunement.

We are also intentional about creating environments that are emotionally safe and free from stress. This means noticing the impact of sensory input, transitions, expectations and pressures on our children and adjusting where needed so that their nervous systems feel calm and supported - not overwhelmed.

We understand that behaviour is a form of communication. We know that behind every outburst, withdrawal or difficulty lies a story. Through careful support and skilled conversations, our team helps children move from 'behaving' their trauma to gradually processing and understanding their life experiences, building a coherent and hopeful narrative of who they are.

Leadership and expertise 💛

Our trauma-informed provision is expertly led by our 'Safeguarding, Pastoral and Wellbeing Leader' (Ms Mann) who is part of our Headship Team. Ms Mann is a qualified TISUK (Trauma Informed Schools UK) practitioner across several trauma disciplines who brings passion, deep knowledge and commitment to this vital work. She leads whole-school and regional training and supports staff in embedding trauma-informed practices across all areas of school life. Ms Mann’s work is complemented by our compassionate and experienced Pastoral TA (Mrs Allen) who provides nurturing day-to-day support for children who need a little extra care. Our Family Worker (Mrs Herrick) is also part of our offer of care and helps support the adults in the family as well as the children.

Our trauma-informed approach is not an initiative - It is part of who we are. It shapes how we teach, how we listen, how we care and how we walk alongside every child. Every child matters... every story matters... every feeling matters... and above all else, every child belongs.

If you want to know more about Trauma Informed Practice, please visit here...

Trauma Informed Schools UK

If you’d like to learn more about our trauma-informed approach or speak to someone on our team, please get in touch via the school office.