What is trauma informed practice?

When we talk about trauma we use the word to describe really tough experiences that can be hard for both children and adults. These could be something like frightening events, loss, or ongoing stress. We know that when children and young people go through tough times, it can affect how they feel and act.


Trauma awareness in schools means that teachers and staff are trained to understand and help children who have been through tough times. This helps to create a safe and supportive environment for learning. It's important because it helps children to feel better, do well in education, and have positive experiences as they grow up.

Trauma informed practice goes beyond awareness. It means that a school or college is not only aware of trauma but also actively incorporates this understanding into its policies, practices and culture. It involves creating an environment that is sensitive to the needs of individuals who may have experienced trauma.

Three key areas of focus

Trauma informed pratice work at Ark Tindal has focussed on 3 key areas:

  1. Training for educators:  staff have been trained by Barnardos to identify signs of trauma, understand its effects on learning and develop strategies to create a supportive environment for all.
  2. Creating safe spaces:  the school has established safe and welcoming environments where our pupils feel secure.
  3. Setting up support systems:  the school have developed enhanced support systems with services which focus on mental health resources, and partnerships with other organisations to address the diverse needs of our school community, both for our pupils and their family members.  

Long term aims

In the longer term, the programme of trauma informed practice aims to improve:

  1. Emotional well-being:  we know children develop resilience and coping skills when they have the tools and language to communicate their thoughts and feelings, and trauma awareness in schools fosters positive emotional wellbeing.  Parents and carers benefit from knowing that their child is in a supportive educational environment. 
  2. Academic outcomes:  trauma aware schools help pupils to overcome barriers to learning, helping them to reach their full potential and improved academic performance. 
  3. Enhanced communication:  staff and families collaborate to share information about what a child needs, which supports consistency.