Trauma Perceptive Practice

Trauma Perceptive Practice (TPP) is an initiative led by Essex Senior Educational Psychologist, Stephen Whitfield. It has been written for childhood educators to understand and subsequently know how to help all children and young people, especially those who are vulnerable. This is explored through concepts in psychology and neuroscience related to attachment, neurobiology and the impact of trauma on brain development and learning. It is underpinned by core values of kindness, compassion, hope, connection and belonging.

Becoming Trauma Perceptive encourages us all to think and act more boldly, through our values, policies and practice. What the research tells us is that if children and young people have consistent experiences of being safe, healthy, active, nurtured, achieving, respected, responsible and included, then they will develop the skills and brain systems that provide resilience to stressors.

Our Trust has engaged with the Essex TPP team and we now have twenty-two champions trainers to support the delivery of the initial training to school staff. All of our Headteachers have received their training in element 1, Whole School Investment and Mindset, and element 2, Looking after Adults, and have ensured that their schools are ready to become Trauma Perceptive. There are seven further elements and teaching staff received training for the first three (Brain development, Attachment, Understanding behaviour) as part of a whole Trust training day. The remaining elements (Relationships, Co-regulation of stress and distress, Self-regulation and resilience) will form part of our staff development programmes in the summer term this year.

We have active relationships with the Essex SEND team who are fulfilling a vital role in monitoring our progress and quality assuring the integrity of the TPP programme, ensuring the sustainability of the changes we make.