Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): Universal support

**What might this look like?  **

Relational approaches in which staff are trauma-informed and attachment aware are key to successful school environments for children and young people who have experienced trauma or adversity. Settings would use proactive rather than reactive approaches and seek to build relationships rather than to punish unwanted behaviours.   

Education services

In school support can include:  

• Relational approaches applied in school focusing on forming connections between staff and pupils to promote trusting and positive interactions. Use of the Building Stronger Foundations whole school audit can be used to identify any provision gaps that exist to develop setting development. Find out more on Building Stronger Foundations on the Cognus website

• Mentoring and pastoral support for pupils who need more guidance and reinforcement in order to follow school expectations  

• See more about Ordinarily Available Provision in the SEND Local Offer 

Cognus Educational Psychology Service

• A range of training sessions including those focused on developing emotional resilience in children and young people, understanding child and adolescent mental health needs and embedding relational approaches. See the Cognus website for upcoming training and events [External website]  

• A call back service for parents/carers to receive a one-off consultation for support and advice. Sign up for a telephone call here [External link]

For more information or enquiries, please email ep.service@cognus.org.uk 

Cognus Therapies

• Cognus Therapies runs a SEND champion training which consists of training on universal speech, language and communication needs, occupational therapy and educational psychology advice and support. Sutton schools who have not accessed this training previously can send one delegate for free or pay for additional staff members to attend. If you would like to book on the training, please contact cognus.therapies@cognus.org.uk 

• Parent workshops which consist of training on a range of universal speech, language and communication needs, occupational therapy and educational psychology advice and support. See more information on parent training on the Cognus website [External link]  

Special school outreach

• Fishbowl sessions to provide school visits and advice and signposting from special school staff

Social care services

Family Hubs

• Parent/carer Coffee Information Sessions. If you would like to find out more about the sessions, please contact Clare Kennedy Parenting Administrator via her email: clare.kennedy@sutton.gov.uk 

• A range of parent/carer training programmes, support sessions and information which can be found on the Family Hubs pages  

Health services

Education Wellbeing Service SWLSTG/Cognus

• South West London and St George's NHS Trust provides a range of webinars and videos for school staff and parents/carers on a range of topics related to emotional wellbeing and mental health. Find more information on the webinars on the SWLSTG NHS website [External link], View the videos on YouTube [External link] 

• In school workshops for school staff and parent/carers on a range of topics related to emotional wellbeing and mental health 

• Every Conversation Matters training to introduce ideas about communication approaches which build relationships and emotional resilience in children and young people. For more information about this service or to request training and support contact your schools Mental Health Lead. To find out who is your linked worker please email EWSinfo@swlstg.nhs.uk or see visit the SWLSTG NHS website [External link]. For schools who are part of the team linked to Cognus learn more about the Sutton Education Wellbeing Service on the Cognus website [External link]

Kooth

• Koot is a Digital mental health platform providing mental health support for young people from age 10 and up. Sign up to the Kooth service on their website [External link]