Closed petition Mandatory training in education re impact of abuse/trauma on children

Closed on 3 May 2017

Children who no longer remain with birth families often have attachment difficulties & a history of witnessing/experiencing abusive trauma regardless of the age they were removed, this is rarely understood by teachers or school staff. This needs to alter to increase attainment levels for children

NICE guidelines advise that schools ought to complete training regarding attachment, brain development & the impact of trauma/abuse on these, but currently most schools (primary & secondary) appear to struggle with understanding the needs of children who are no longer with birth families. This ultimately impacts negatively on these children's attainment & enjoyment of school. We wish to make it mandatory for teachers to undergo training regarding the impact of trauma on brain development & attachment. Training should also be reviewed in order to ensure all teaching staff understand these children's needs. Work by John Bowlby, Margaret Ainsworth, Dan Hughes, Bruce Perry, & Graham Music all provide detail about brain development, trauma & attachment.