Trauma Perceptive Practice

Trauma Perceptive Practice (TPP) is the Essex approach to understanding behaviour and supporting emotional wellbeing in children and young people and is the approach adopted by Epping Forest Schools Partnership Trust.

Over the last twenty years there has been a huge growth in our knowledge about the formation of our brain and how it is affected by our childhood experiences. Adversity during childhood can have long lasting effects on how children and young people’s brains and bodies develop, with implications for behaviour, health and achievement seen well into adulthood.

The trauma informed approach, whilst supportive of those who have experienced challenge, trauma and adversity, is also an approach which has a multitude of benefits for all pupils and adults in our trust. 

TPP focuses on understanding the stress response and how important it is for us to teach and practice self-regulation and resilience. 

TPP is a relationship driven model for behaviour management and has the underlying belief that most behaviour is needs driven and applies to both children and adults. 

A TPP approach should lead adults to offer different, alternative and more helpful responses to difficulties and challenges with relationships and behaviour which will ensure interactions are supportive and nurturing, rather than negative. After all, if an adult was showing distressed behaviour we would offer support, kind words and solutions.

Within the TPP approach, it is important to remember the importance of consequences, the use of restorative approaches and optimism. TPP is not a softly, softly, approach to behaviour management. It helps to build resilience and self-esteem. It works towards strengthening relationships through repair.

All our schools use TPP as a whole school approach and work within its core values of  Compassion and Kindness, Hope, Connection and Belonging.

All of our schools have TPP Leads, who meet regularly to share and celebrate the success of TPP within their school. 

Wellbeing

Limes Farm WAS Award

Congratulations to Limes Farm Infant School who achieved this award in December 2020, the result of three years’ hard work. Well done to you all.

When considering Wellbeing and Mental Health Programmes for its employees, an organisation needs to be aware that such initiatives will only be effective if the basic tools of Leadership and Management are embedded within its foundations.

Job satisfaction and engagement are likely to be higher where employees have a clear Job Description and understand where their role fits into the organisation and its reporting lines. They should be able to articulate the purpose and strategy of the organisation and recognise the Leaders who are responsible for it. Good two-way communication, a consistent and supportive managerial approach based around clear policies and procedures must also be in place.

Encouraging teamwork and collaboration across teams helps to build a supportive and 'no blame' culture where employees are more likely to thrive.

Companies which have established the basics of organisational structure and communication will already have achieved a high level of employee satisfaction / engagement and this should reflect favourably on the wellbeing of most employees.

However, organisations such as these are best placed to introduce general and specifically focused wellbeing and mental health initiatives to further improve employee engagement and general wellbeing amongst the workforce.

Our Trust recognises and fully embraces this approach and constantly reflects on the wellbeing of our children, families and staff as we face these challenging times together.

Sue Sunderland

Trustee