Attachment Aware Resources

Attachment Aware School

1. The Effect of Trauma
Background reading and resources looking at the effect trauma can have on a child’s development and how they may present the trauma through the way they behave in school.

YouTube Resources:

The Repair of Early Trauma by Beacon House School: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOCTxcaNHeg
Removed (Part 1 & 2) - An insight into the reality for children living in care: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvqRI1Wjn14&t=1700s
Amy’s Foster Care Story – An insight into the reality for children living in care: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljDu4nNUPWI
Trauma and the Brain – Animation looking at the effect trauma has on the brain and a child’s survival behaviours: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-tcKYx24aA&spfreload=5
Adverse Childhood Experiences – A film produced by Public Health Wales to raise awareness of Adverse Childhood Experiences and the implications on their health moving forward: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHgLYI9KZ-A
A TED talk by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris highlighted the ACEs study and implications on health for children who have suffered trauma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ovIJ3dsNk

Resources for Download:

2. Sensory Processing
Children who have had limited early experiences may also struggle with sensory processing delay. Having an understanding of sensory processing allows us to understand in more detail a complete picture of the needs of the child.

Resources for Download:

Sensory processing, coordination and attachment

3. Strategies
Links to strategies and further reading on how best to support these children within the classroom.

YouTube Resources:

The Window of Tolerance – A clip from Beacon House School to explain a child’s survival response and the impact of supporting a child back into their Window of Tolerance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wcm-1FBrDvU

Resources for Download:

4. Supporting a Crisis
When a child is in crisis it can be a very emotional time for both the child and staff involved. Reflecting post crisis is a key part of the process and using a crisis as a teaching tool for the child to get a better understanding of their own emotional state helps them understand themselves better moving forward.

YouTube Resources:

Treating the Core of Childhood Trauma – TED talk by Liz Mullinar examining the problem of childhood trauma and how to treat it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svX3fEdVTLQ

Resources for Download:

5. Transition
Transitions can be a key trigger for children with a disrupted attachment. Their feeling of safety is impacted by the change. Planning transitions carefully can support the children through transitions and give them the safety net to learn how to cope with transitions more independently in the future.