Two year pilot used mixed methods. Participating institutions included 1 secondary, 4 primary schools, 4 children’s centres and 1 youth centre for Part 1 of the pilot (year 1) and 1 secondary school and 5 primary schools for Part 2 of the pilot (year 2). Attachment theory is frequently cited as an important part of a teacher’s understanding of how to manage and understand behaviour in the classroom. Cauffman, E et al. (2007) Gender differences in mental health symptoms among delinquent and community youths. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 5(3) , pp.287-307 ( paywalled) The Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (Iriss) is a charitable company limited by guarantee. During the antenatal period, parents and carers can form a bond with their child. Any bonds formed before birth can have a positive impact on the relationship between babies and their caregivers once the child is born (Condon and Corkindale, 1997) 3. Birth until 6 weeks

Household substance abuse: A household member was a problem drinker or alcoholic or a household member used street drugs. Despite the limitations of the methodology and analysis of the data available, this report is an example of the potential impact of attachment informed schools in the UK and connects qualitative evidence from participants to quantitative findings which may provide useful insights. Fancourt, N and Sebba, J (2018) The Leicestershire virtual school’s Attachment Aware Schools Programme: evaluation report ( pdf) The ACE score, a total sum of the different categories of ACEs reported by participants, is used to assess cumulative childhood stress. Study findings repeatedly reveal a graded dose-response relationship between ACEs and negative health and well-being outcomes across the life course. As the number of ACEs increases so does the risk for the following: We have provided links to the materials referenced in the summary. Some of these materials are published in academic journals and are only available with a subscription through the The Knowledge Network with a NHSScotland OpenAthens username. The Knowledge Network offers accounts to everyone who helps provide health and social care in Scotland in conjunction with the NHS and Scottish Local Authorities, including many in the third and independent sectors. You can register here.Mental illness in household: A household member was depressed or mentally ill or a household member attempted suicide. The NSPCC has many services that children and families can be referred to, from supporting parents and carers in taking care of their children to preventing sexual abuse and overcoming abuse. During this period a child begins to show a strong attachment to their primary caregivers. Babies start to develop separation anxiety during this phase and can become upset when their caregiver leaves, even for short periods (Bowlby, 1997) 5. 18 months – 2 years onwards Kalmakis, K and Chandler, G (2015) Health consequences of adverse childhood experiences: a systematic review. Journal Of The American Association Of Nurse Practitioners, 27(8) pp.457-465 ( Open Access)

The school explicitly connects students to the school community and provides multiple opportunities to practice newly developing skillsMost children and young people enjoy life and are successful in school and in relationships. This lasts into adult life. But a significant minority struggle from an early stage and especially in adolescence. These children and young people can be: A number of studies reported beneficial effects such as lower anxiety levels and improved concentration which have been linked to positive learning-related behaviours Adapt your classroom’s mindfulness practice. Mindfulness is a fabulous tool for counteracting the impact of trauma. However, it can also be threatening for children who have experienced trauma, as the practice may bring up scary and painful emotions and body sensations.

Children can form attachments with more than one caregiver, but the bond with the people who have provided close care from early infancy is the most important and enduring (Bowlby, 1997) 2. In turn, these processes support the foundation of “executive functioning skills”. These entail a range of key skills that enable children to focus, hold and manipulate information, solve problems, make decisions, persist at tasks, inhibit impulsive behaviour, set goals and monitor their progress. These are all the skills needed for academic learning in the classroom. Trauma takes its toll Teachers are very aware of drop-off in the morning, and separation, when the children are very young,” he says. “But what I would emphasise is that separation responses in the morning are much less meaningful than reunion behaviour at the end of the day.Over the first year of life, an infant begins to develop attachments to parents or carers. As these attachments form, we tend to see characteristic behaviour in infant interactions with their attachment figure: Part of this is about gaining trust - he says this enables a child to feel safe enough to learn. “Whether it’s number work in mathematics or geography, science or literature, [it’s about providing] a secure base from which to explore,” Steele explains. This report summarizes the final findings of an evaluation of community-based initiatives in Washington State that were intended to prevent child maltreatment and exposure to toxic stress, mitigate their effects, and improve several child and youth development outcomes.

During this stage of their development, a baby might start to show a preference for their primary and secondary caregivers (often the mother and father). 6-8 months until 18 months-2 years In the life of a typical, healthy, developing child, they will have at least three very close attachment figures,” Steele says. “That means people they can talk to, they can share their emotions with. [As a result] they feel that their fears and worries are manageable.” The theory behind ACEs is that adverse childhood experiences lead to neurobiological impacts and health risks, which in turn lead to long-term social and health problems. The greater the neurobiological impacts and health risks, the more serious the lifelong consequences to health and wellbeing. ( Kahn and Vezzuto 2015) Impact of trauma on educational outcomes Bowlby believed these early experiences of attachment formed an internal ‘working model’ which the child used to form relationships with secondary attachment figures – and later, friendships with peers and eventually romantic and parenting relationships in adult life. Meltzer, H., Gatward, R, Corbin, T., Goodman, R. and Ford, T. (2003) The mental health of young people looked after by local authorities in England. Office for National Statistics/Department of Health. London: The Stationery Office.Insecure attachments develop if early interactions between a child and their parent or caregiver are more negative, more inconsistent or more insensitive. They can also develop if the parent is unresponsive, inappropriate or unpredictable. This can have unfortunate consequences for a child’s achievements in school. Insecurely attached children invariably have lower academic grades, have reduced social competence, are less willing to take on challenges and have higher levels of ADHD and delinquency.