Trauma Informed School

Frith Manor Primary School is part of a Trauma Informed School project collaborating with The Virtual School, Educational Psychologists, and Advisory Teachers from Barnet. The project works with several Primary and Secondary schools in Barnet. The school is now in the second year of this project.

What is Trauma?

Trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as harmful or life threatening. While unique to the individual, generally the experience of trauma can cause lasting adverse effects, limiting the ability to function and achieve mental, physical, social, emotional or spiritual well-being (definition adapted from Gov.uk working definition of trauma informed practice Nov 2022).

What is a Trauma Informed Approach

Trauma-informed practice is an approach which is grounded in the understanding that trauma exposure can impact an individual’s neurological, biological, psychological and social development.

Trauma-informed practice aims to increase our awareness of how trauma can negatively impact on individuals and communities, and their ability to feel safe or develop trusting relationships with others.

Trauma-informed practice acknowledges the need to see beyond an individual’s presenting behaviours and to ask, ‘What does this child need?’ rather than ‘What is wrong with this child?’.

There are 6 principles of trauma-informed practice: safety, trust, choice, collaboration, empowerment and cultural consideration.

(adapted from Gov.uk working definition of trauma informed practice Nov 2022).

How does childhood trauma affect the brain