Sian Young
It is our duty to support these students in every lesson
ACEs - Adverse Childhood Experiences
Impact of ACEs
Toxic Shame - A feeling that you're worthless.
It happens when other people treat you poorly and you turn that treatment into a belief about yourself.
Toxic stress - This can occur when a child experiences storng, frequent, and/or prolonged adversity - such as physical
Acknowledging moment - Take one minute, or show high alert students that you see them and mark the classroom as a safe place so that they don't feel they have to run away. For them to be listened to is really important.
PACE - trauma informed practice
Playfulness - break down barriers with smiles and humour.
Acceptance - Acceptance communicates that that the child’s inner life is safe with you; that you are interested in it and will not judge or evaluate it. The child’s inner life is not right or wrong, it simply is. Acceptance is at the core of the child’s sense of safety.
Curiosity - Curiosity is wondering about the meaning behind the behaviour for the child. With curiosity, the adults are conveying their intention to simply understand why and to help the child with understanding. The adult’s intentions are to truly understand and help the child, not to lecture or convey that the child’s inner life is wrong in some way.
Empathy - Understanding how they feel.
One thing they might find really difficult is transitions.
Possible support that has worked in the classroom:
Allow them to sit at the back and scan the room.
To get through the defensive wall, use humour
Quality moments: take one minute to smile, ask how they are etc
Four Rs if distressed.*
Fiddle toys/ happy bag
Movement break/ exit card
PACE allows connection
Reasonable adjustment
Connect with feelings not with behaviours
Working memory - repetition, clear structure, focus on key words.
The 'Big Ask' in School:
Trusting grown ups
Following The lead of grown ups
Relinquishing some control to grown ups
Being free from anxiety
Being free from toxic shame
Feeling safe
Managing multiple transitions
Feeling that they belong
Feeling special and significant
Being freed up enough to engage in curiosity and exploration
Managing sensory overload
Negotiating key developmental stages such as adolescence
Being self and others aware so that they can have the capacity to make wise choices
Attachment Aware in schools video:
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