An Attachment aware schools programme: a safe space, a nurturing learning community

ABSTRACT

There is a growing expectation that schools have a good understanding of attachment theory and its implications in practice, in order to meet the needs of Looked After Children, and other vulnerable learners. Derbyshire County Council’s Attachment Aware Schools programme, now in its fifth year, is meeting this need by providing a substantial school development programme which has led to innovative and sustainable ways of developing school practice.

This programme has involved a comprehensive range of bespoke long-term development work with 77 schools to date, through a dynamic interaction of training, action research and reflective practice to promote safe, nurturing and effective learning environments. The programme, underpinned by attachment theory, has led to schools throughout the county becoming communities of inquiry and hubs of excellence, through a process of practice-as-research, where the cyclical nature of action research enhances the complementary relationship of theory and practice.

Evaluation of the programme has shown that all participating schools have effected ethos change, and developed better informed pedagogical practice, to support Looked After Children, and other vulnerable learners. This article explores how building attachment awareness in schools, with a focus on relationship-building and a better understanding of teacher–pupil interaction, can contribute meaningfully to whole school development.

KEYWORDS:

• Attachment awareness
• action research
• trauma
• reflective practice
• looked after children

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by The Virtual School, Derbyshire County Council.

Notes on contributors

Paul Kelly

Dr. Paul Kelly a Consultant Educational and Child Psychologist in private practice and is also the Specialist Senior Educational Psychologist with the Virtual School for Children in Care in Derbyshire County Council. Paul’s doctoral research highlighted the importance of collaborative working with schools and settings in understanding and applying attachment theory, and its implications, for all children, young people and adults. He has jointly pioneered the Attachment Aware Schools programme in Derbyshire.

Lizzie Watt

Lizzie Watt is the Assistant Headteacher, leading on innovation, Teaching and Learning for Derbyshire’s Virtual School. Lizzie has completed a Master’s Degree in Education, which focused on the increasing responsibilities for schools to support emotional health and wellbeing. Lizzie is co-founder of the Attachment Aware Schools programme: A Safe Space, A Nurturing Learning Environment.

Sara Giddens

Dr. Sara Giddens is a Reader in Choreographic Practices (University of Central Lancashire), with a background in Performance, Creative Social Pedagogy and Action-Research. Throughout the programme Sara has been providing theoretical and practical ways to approach and employ action-research within each of the settings.