Attachment and Trauma
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Attachment theory explains the importance of a child’s emotional bond with their primary caregivers. If this bond is disrupted or lost it can adversely affect a child’s emotional and psychological wellbeing and may lead to trauma. Left unaided, attachment and trauma difficulties, such as bereavement, abuse, neglect or war, can have a lasting impact on a child’s social and cognitive development.
A learner with attachment and trauma difficulties may have problems forming strong attachments and relationships. They may display a consistent pattern of withdrawn behaviours or have episodes of unexplained irritability sadness or fearfulness. They may also be prone to lashing out or running away. Helping a learner to ‘engage and achieve’ in the curriculum and lead emotionally resilient lives requires access to educational experiences that foster confidence in abilities, teach self-regulation skills and model how to build secure and nonthreatening relationships.
The course content draws on the attachment-informed practice of Yarra Me School (a specialist school in Melbourne, Australia, delivering therapeutic education programmes) and the model of attachment training and research carried out by Bath Spa University. The content relates to learners in compulsory education (4-18 years), however, the theory and many of the assessment and intervention strategies can be contextualised and implemented in early years settings too.
This course aims to develop the knowledge, skills and practice of all education professionals working with children and young people (CYP) with attachment and trauma difficulties. You will learn how to assess the needs of the learner and go on to develop a support plan consisting of SMART goals and interventions, which you will implement and later review to determine how well it has met the learner’s specific developmental needs.
Our courses are structured into four sections. Click on the section headings to reveal page titles and some example content.
Develop an overview of attachment theory, including its origins, and learn about the 4 types of attachment disorder and the characteristics of attachment types.
- Section objectives and your learner’s profile
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Introduction to Kevin’s story
Screenshot from Understanding page 2 - Child trauma
- What is attachment theory?
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The origins of attachment theory
Screenshot from Understanding page 5 - The attachment behavioural system
- Impact on cognitive and emotional development
- The strange situation procedure (Mary Ainsworth)
- The 4 types of attachment
- The dimensions of attachment
- Why is attachment an important concept?
- Emotions and learning
- Criticisms of attachment theory
- What does the theory enable us to do?
- End of section quiz
- Section summary
Learn definitions of the different types of attachment disorder, and criteria for assessing behaviours and co-occurring difficulties, and the impact on learning.
- Section objectives and your learner profile
- Definitions
- Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
- Disinhibited Attachment Disorder
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Who is at risk?
Screenshot from Assessment page 5 - Assessment tools
- Distinguishing RAD from other conditions
- Co-occurring difficulties: learning difficulties
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Co-occurring difficulties: mental health issues
Screenshot from Assessment page 9 - End of section quiz
- Course assignment: Your Learner’s three SMART goals
- Section summary
Develop an awareness of your own reactions to challenging behaviour, how to respond to incidents, and the importance of a whole school approach.
- Section objectives
- Relating to those with attachment difficulties
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Being aware of our own response
Screenshot from Interventions page 3 - The power of relationships
- The school as a secure base
- Building relationships
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Creating a safe place
Screenshot from Interventions page 7 - In the classroom
- Personalising learning
- Whole school approaches - attachment aware schools
- Managing incidents
- Following an incident
- Supporting staff following an incident
- The team around the learner
- Concluding Kevin’s story
- End of section quiz
- Course assignment: Your learner’s interventions
- Section summary
View examples of individual experiences, and the assessments and interventions carried out to meet the needs, including attachment-focused therapy.
- Section objectives
- Case study: My exclusion story
- Case study: Jimmy and Adam
- Case study: Speech and Language assessment
- Case study: Attachment focused therapy
- Case study: Film ‘Removed’ (Part 1 and 2)
Teacher
Teaching Assistant
Senior Leader
Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistant
Other Position
Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistant
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Delivery
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20 hours, 1-2 hrs per week |
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Flexible start date |
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Assignment
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Tutoring options
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Cost per place
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Certification
20 hrs CPD Certified What's this?
Certificate of Achievement
OLT Associate Tutors
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Kim Webb |
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Rod MarkhamTCert, Adv. Dip. Ed. (SEN), BA (Hons), MSC, CPsychol, AFBPS, HCPC registered |
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Course learning outcomes
On successful completion of the course, you will be able to:
- explain the importance of inclusive practices in ensuring good life outcomes
- discuss the origins of attachment theory and evaluate its strengths and weaknesses
- describe the four attachment styles
- use simple assessment tools and teacher checklists to Identify attachment difficulties
- describe strategies for working with each type of attachment style
- discuss the power of relationships and apply the process of personalising learning
- respond effectively to challenging incidents including self-care
- offer personalised support within a Response to Intervention Framework
- create a support plan for a pupil/group of pupils in your school