West Kirby School achieve Attachment and Trauma Sensitive Schools Award

Accredited by Jennifer Nock Training and Consultancy, the award aims to provide a framework of support and understanding for schools to support children and young people who have experienced adversity and assist in helping them to heal, thrive, play and learn.

The Award is external recognition of the commitment of West Kirby School staff and the work they do to develop a culture of compassion and nurture. This plays a key role in getting children and young people into a state of ‘learning readiness’.

We’re very proud to be one of only two schools in the Wirral and one of ten in the North West to have achieved this award.

Jennifer Nock commented “I hope that you will celebrate the school’s commitment to its children, successfully removing barriers to learning and participation in the life of the school. I have felt particularly privileged to share your journey.”

“The Award is only issued to those educational establishments that can demonstrate that they have met its rigorous quality standards and can maintain them over time. It affirms that children and young people are firmly at the centre of all they do at West Kirby School and College.”

I am really proud of members of our whole school team, who work together on a daily basis to ensure our pupils receive the very best support. This Award is a real accolade and a great achievement.

Our Therapeutic Support Team staff members, Mr Davies and Miss Franklin, led the award. With specialist training, they promote an attachment and trauma sensitive approach across the school and are both qualified to train people in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention.

 

Attachment and Trauma Sensitive School’s Award report feedback

We’d like to share comments with you from our feedback report. Jennifer Nock said, “There was a number of significant points worthy of a special mention”:

• An authentic, solution-focused approach is taken to offering the best possible support to families, and children’s wellbeing is central to practice.
• The personalised, individual approach to all pupils is evidenced through numerous practices reflective practice.
• The commitment of the leadership team to developing a culture of attachment and trauma sensitivity has been demonstrated.
• Leaders’ passion has led to a shared vision of how to deliver the best experiences and outcomes for all the pupils at West Kirby School and College.
• There is a priority on safeguarding, mental health and wellbeing, with an understanding of the necessity of putting the child, his or her overall well-being and secure development at the centre of education, in order for them to achieve academically. Without this prioritisation, academic results can have no authentic meaning or personal value to the child going forward into the world of work and adulthood.
• Quality staff care and emotional support to protect mental health and well-being is provided at a very high level and support for staff is non-judgemental and that leaders are approachable and empathic. Care for staff is a particular strength of the school.
• Staff are fully aware of the importance of viewing a child through a developmental lens rather than a chronological one. They demonstrated sensitivity to children’s histories and experiences how they are working with these children to support regulation and develop pro-social behaviour. This is a particular strength of the school.
•  Strategies to support executive function are being used consistently throughout the school. Therapy teams and classroom staff work seamlessly together to provide a supportive environment for learning. This is a particular strength of the school.

To find out more about this award visit www.attachmentandtraumasensitiveschoolsaward.com

I hope you share in our sense of achievement and celebrate the benefit for our children and young people.

With kind regards

Miss S.Thomas

Principal

West Kirby School and College

 

You may also like to read this article recently published about trauma informed practice, behaviour and attitudes in school.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/oct/10/is-the-tide-turning-against-zero-tolerance-in-uk-schools