Trauma-Informed Practice in Education

Nearly half of all UK children have been exposed to at least one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE), such as neglect, abuse, or household dysfunction [1]. These experiences can have a profound and lasting impact on a child's learning, behaviour, and development. A trauma-informed school doesn't ask, "What's wrong with you?" but rather, "What's happened to you?" TeachPlus’s Trauma-Informed Practice training empowers educators to create a culture of safety, connection, and healing, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive.

This expert-led programme moves beyond managing behaviour to understanding its root causes. By embedding trauma-informed principles into your school's ethos, you can reduce challenging incidents, improve student engagement, and foster a truly inclusive and supportive learning environment for all.

The Core Principles of Trauma-Informed Practice

A trauma-informed approach is not a single intervention but a whole-school cultural shift. Our training is built around the five core principles that are essential for creating a safe and supportive environment where students affected by trauma can learn and grow.

Principle In the Classroom & School Environment
Safety Creating predictable routines, clear expectations, and both physical and psychological safety.
Trustworthiness & Transparency Building reliable relationships, making decisions with clarity, and ensuring consistency from all staff.
Choice & Collaboration Sharing power with students by offering them choices and involving them in decision-making processes.
Empowerment Validating students' feelings, building on their strengths, and fostering resilience and self-advocacy skills.
Cultural, Historical & Gender Issues Recognising and addressing biases, stereotypes, and historical trauma to create an inclusive and equitable environment.

From Awareness to Actionable Strategy

TeachPlus’s training, developed and delivered by our team of Clinical Psychologists and Behaviour Specialists, provides the practical tools needed to embed these principles across your entire school community

Our course will equip your staff to:

Understand the Neuroscience of Trauma: Learn how ACEs and trauma affect the developing brain and its impact on behaviour, learning, and relationships.

  • Develop Relationship-Based Strategies: Master techniques for building trust and connection with vulnerable students, creating the psychological safety needed for learning.

  • Implement De-escalation and Self-Regulation Techniques: Teach students (and staff) how to manage strong emotions and regulate their nervous systems in a healthy way.

  • Adapt Your Environment and Curriculum: Make practical changes to the physical classroom environment and teaching practices to be more inclusive and supportive of trauma-affected students.

"The Trauma-Informed Practice course has fundamentally changed how we view student behaviour. Our staff are now more empathetic, confident, and equipped with practical strategies that are making a real difference in the classroom." — Deputy Headteacher, Manchester

The TeachPlus Advantage: A Whole-School Approach

We believe that for trauma-informed practice to be effective, it must be a whole-school commitment. Our training is designed to create lasting cultural change, not just provide a one-off solution.

  • Expert-Led and Evidence-Based: Our content is designed by Clinical Psychologists and is grounded in the latest research on child development and neuroscience.

  • Tailored to Your Context: We work with you to understand your school's unique challenges and adapt the training to meet the specific needs of your students and staff.

  • Practical and Sustainable: We focus on actionable strategies and provide ongoing support to ensure that the principles are embedded in your school's policies, practices, and ethos.

  • Flexible Delivery: We offer a range of formats, including on-site full-day training, twilight sessions, and blended learning, to fit your school's schedule.

Contact TeachPlus today to begin your journey towards becoming a trauma-informed school and create an environment where every child feels safe, seen, and supported.

FAQ - Trauma-Informed Practice

Frequently Asked Questions

Trauma-Informed Practice

A trauma-informed school is one where all staff understand the widespread impact of trauma on students and are trained to recognise the signs and symptoms of trauma. It involves a whole-school cultural shift, moving from asking "What's wrong with you?" to "What's happened to you?" The focus is on creating a safe, supportive, and healing environment where policies and practices are designed to avoid re-traumatisation and build resilience.
This training is designed for all staff. For trauma-informed practice to be effective, it requires a whole-school approach. This includes teachers, teaching assistants, senior leadership, administrative staff, lunchtime supervisors, and site staff. A consistent, empathetic approach from every adult a child interacts with is key to creating a truly safe environment.
While there are overlaps, this is fundamentally different. Standard behaviour management often focuses on modifying behaviours, whereas trauma-informed practice seeks to understand the root cause of the behaviour, which is often a response to trauma. It is not about compliance, but connection. It complements SEND training by providing a deeper understanding of how trauma can intersect with and exacerbate other needs.
That's a fantastic foundation. Trauma-informed practice will enhance and strengthen your existing pastoral system by providing a common language and a unified, evidence-based framework for all staff. It moves the principles of good pastoral care out of the pastoral office and embeds them in every classroom and interaction, ensuring a consistent and proactive approach to student wellbeing.
Schools that embed trauma-informed practice typically report a significant reduction in challenging incidents, exclusions, and the need for physical intervention. You can also expect to see improved student engagement and attendance, better staff-student relationships, increased staff confidence in managing difficult situations, and a calmer, more positive school culture overall.
Our Trauma-Informed Practice training is developed and delivered by our expert team of Clinical Psychologists and Behaviour Specialists. They bring a wealth of practical, real-world experience from working within educational and clinical settings, ensuring the content is both evidence-based and highly relevant to the challenges your school faces.
We offer a range of flexible delivery options to suit your school's operational needs. This includes intensive full-day on-site training for whole-school INSET days, a series of twilight sessions spread over a term, and blended learning models that combine self-directed online modules with live, interactive workshops.

References

[1] Bellis, M. A., Hughes, K., Ford, K., et al. (2018). Adverse childhood experiences and sources of childhood resilience: a retrospective study of their combined relationships with adult health and wellbeing. BMC Public Health, 18(1), 792.