Launched in 2023, the Surrey Attachment Aware and Trauma Informed Schools (SAATIS) programme is similar to courses being delivered in other large authorities and draws upon the research findings and outcomes from the Timpson National Evaluation (Attachment and Trauma Awareness in Schools Programme).
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Introduction
An Attachment and Trauma Aware Setting is a national term being used to identify schools where all staff are aware of the neuroscience that stops vulnerable children effectively accessing learning and have specific understanding of attachment and trauma that they can draw upon to develop setting and classroom practice.
It is a national recommendation that all education professionals become attachment and trauma aware, and as such we have consulted with various services, research, and other Virtual Schools to develop a model for Surrey education settings. The aim of this programme is that awareness becomes practice and is intrinsically linked with school priorities.
Virtual Schools (along with other Local Authority Services) have Corporate Parenting Duties for looked after children as well as extended duties for children and young people previously looked after, who have a social worker or those in kinship care arrangements.
With this very clear mandate comes the requirement for a strategic approach that has an impact on ensuring effective approaches that secure engagement in education, compassionate provision and intervention that will ultimately achieve better outcomes for this whole cohort. Virtual Schools remain in a strong position to lead on this work alongside schools and other partners.
Programme outline and requirements
SAATIS will use the 'lead team' approach; this means that each school will need to identify a lead team of a minimum of three and a maximum of five people who will attend the core training days. The lead team will then take the role back in school to conduct the action research, case study and take the lead to disseminate the training across their settings with staff.
The lead team will be key to ensuring a school can quickly make use of the learning from the training days into practice around individual young people and as the work develops, with school policies and practice more generally. The team should consist of between three to five members of staff and must include the designated teacher and a senior leader. Examples of the other members of the team could include a member of support staff, a governor, a parental/pastoral support officer or a classroom teacher, lunchtime supervisor, office staff, emotional wellbeing and mental health lead or a linked social worker.
All participating schools will be required to collate baseline evidence and submit an impact summary; support for this action research and report will be given throughout the programme.
Delivery plan
SAATIS will incorporate a blended model of delivery using face to face and virtual sessions; the virtual delivery brings the fantastic opportunity to invite more than five members of staff to listen and take part. This can be facilitated through more than one staff member sharing a screen to watch and listen, facilitated on a bigger screen to a wider audience or through us issuing multiple invite links for people to take part virtually at home. All we ask is that you let us know what your plan is so we can administrate accurately and effectively.
There will be three days of formal training input followed by network meetings to support schools planning their dissemination. During the programme, SVS will continue to run network support sessions and offer bespoke advice and guidance through a named contact from our service and in collaboration with Educational Psychologists.
Interested in taking part?
We are preparing plans for cohort four of the SAATIS programme, launching later in 2025. If you would like to find out more or express your interest in being part of the Surrey Attachment and Trauma Informed Schools programme, please email svs.training@surreycc.gov.uk.
