Trauma support needed in Scotland’s schools

An online survey from Barnardo’s Scotland has highlighted how teachers and education workers feel about the need for training that supports children and young people who experience trauma.

Research found that a majority of adults working in primary or secondary schools think more can be done to spot the early signs of trauma and adversity, with 79% in agreement of the importance of recognising and responding to circumstances that can have a negative impact on young pupils.

A further majority (73%) of those who responded to polling also believe that schools have a responsibility to understand the effects of trauma and childhood adversity on the mental health and general wellbeing of children.

The charity is calling for schools to take a trauma-informed approach to children and young people, and a greater understanding of behaviours that could present as unruly or difficult in a school setting.

Laura Falconer, Barnardo’s Assistant Director Impact – Mental Health and Wellbeing, said:

“It is crucial that schools create an environment where all staff know how to support and respond to children affected by early trauma; where children are taught to develop the skills they need to understand and cope with their experience, and where staff feel confident linking in with additional support if needed

“Teaching children from an early age about emotional awareness, how to self-regulate, and the skills to support resilience are essential parts of preventing future problems with their mental health and wellbeing.”

The research also showed that 87% of respondents who received early trauma and ACEs training found it to be beneficial.