“It is estimated that as many as two-thirds of children undergo at least one significant traumatic experience including those relating to maltreatment, neglect, poverty or witnessing violence, with the proportion varying between schools and between geographical areas.”

(Hadleys-AATI-Report, May 2022)

In today’s educational landscape, teachers and schools are increasingly encountering students who have experienced trauma. Trauma can deeply affect a child’s emotional and cognitive development, significantly hindering their learning process and classroom engagement. This requires teachers to adopt a perspective that prioritises understanding and patience over discipline.

Recognising the signs of trauma and adopting a trauma-informed approach is essential for creating classroom environments where every student has the opportunity to succeed. In this article we’ll take a closer look at how trauma affects learning, and what steps you can take to adopt a better trauma-informed approach to classroom management.

The Impact of Trauma on Students

Students who have experienced trauma may display a range of behaviours that reflect their internal struggle, affecting a child’s ability to learn, process information, and engage in the classroom. It can manifest in various ways, such as difficulty focusing, memory challenges, difficulty in managing emotions, heightened responses and withdrawal. A trauma-informed approach involved looking beyond the behaviour, recognising these as merely symptoms of underlying trauma in a child’s life.

Several key areas where trauma influences a child’s learning include:

Cognitive Functions: Children who have experienced trauma may have difficulty focusing in class, following instructions, and retaining information. Their brains may be more attuned to perceived threats in their environment, making it challenging to concentrate on academic tasks.

Emotional and Psychological Well-being: Children who have experienced trauma often struggle with emotional regulation and may exhibit anxiety, depression, or symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These emotional challenges can manifest as withdrawal, disinterest in learning, or disruptive behaviour in the classroom.

Social Interactions: A child who has experienced trauma might struggle with trust, for example, making it hard for them to form healthy relationships with teachers or classmates. They may also misinterpret social cues or respond inappropriately to normal interactions, leading to social isolation or conflict.

School Attendance: The cumulative effect of these challenges can lead to poor academic performance and decreased school attendance. Frequent absences from school can contribute to a cycle of frustration and disengagement with learning.

Adopting a Trauma-Informed Approach in Schools

A trauma-informed approach in education shifts the perspective from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” It emphasises creating a school environment that acknowledges the presence of trauma and its effects on learning and behaviour. For educational organisations, this approach involves the incorporation of several key aspects:

Ongoing Professional Development: Training teachers and staff about the impacts of trauma is fundamental. Such training helps in identifying signs of trauma and equips staff with strategies to support affected students effectively.

Creating Safe Learning Environments: Safety and predictability are paramount. Schools must strive to be places where children feel secure, supported, and understood, which is foundational for their educational engagement and growth.

Policy and Practice Alignment: School policies should reflect a commitment to trauma-informed practices, ensuring that responses to behavioural issues are sensitive to a child’s experiences.

Supportive Services and Collaborations: Schools should provide direct access to counselling and mental health services, facilitating a network of support that includes teachers, counsellors, and parents, ensuring children receive the comprehensive care they need.

Individualised Approaches: Acknowledging the unique impact of trauma on each student, teachers should tailor their support and behaviour management strategies to meet individual needs, allowing for flexibility in teaching and assessment methods.

Building a Trauma-Informed Culture

Adopting a trauma-informed approach means cultivating a school culture that is not only aware of the impacts of trauma but is also equipped to support all schoolchildren in a positive, understanding, and flexible manner, encouraging resilience and allowing students to feel valued and connected. This culture shift requires commitment from the top, with upper management leading by example and fostering an environment where teachers feel empowered to make a difference in their students’ lives.

For students facing the challenges of trauma, the school environment can serve as a crucial counterbalance to their experiences, offering opportunities for healing and development. By adopting a trauma-informed approach to classroom management, teachers can ensure that all students have the support they need to thrive academically and emotionally.

Timian Learning & Development works alongside schools to deliver positive behaviour management training that enables staff to safely support students in crisis. Our training programmes are designed to empower education staff with the tools and practical knowledge they need to reduce escalation, foster safe environments and enhance professional capabilities. Our BILD Act Certified training solutions are designed with a person-centred approach, specifically tailored for individuals working in an education setting.
For more information on our training, register your interest here.