TPP - Trauma Perceptive Practice

Trauma Perceptive Practice (TPP) is the Essex approach to understanding behaviour and supporting emotional wellbeing. 

Trauma Perceptive Practice (TPP) is an initiative led by Essex Senior Educational Psychologist, Stephen Whitfield. It has been written for childhood educators to understand and subsequently know how to help all children and young people, especially those who are vulnerable. This is explored through concepts in psychology and neuroscience related to attachment, neurobiology and the impact of trauma on brain development and learning. It is underpinned by core values: kindness, compassion, hope, connection and belonging.  

At St Mary's C of E Primary School we have linked the values of kindness, compassion, hope, connection and belonging to our core Christian values that underpin what we do as a school. 

As a school we know that if pupils have a consistent experience of feeling safe, cared for and respected then they will be able to develop the skills and systems to be to deal with difficult experiences.

Becoming Trauma Perceptive encourages us all to think and act more boldly, through our values, policies and practice. What the research tells us is that if children and young people have consistent experiences of being safe, healthy, active, nurtured, achieving, respected, responsible and included, then they will develop the skills and brain systems that provide resilience to stressors.

Mrs Walker, our Headteacher and SENCO, is a trainer for TPP and all of our staff have received their training in element 1, Whole School Investment and Mindset, and element 2, Looking after Adults, to ensure that we are Trauma Perceptive. There are seven further elements and teaching staff will be receiving this training throughout the Spring and Summer Terms of 2022: Brain development, Attachment, Understanding behaviour, Relationships, Co-regulation of stress and distress, Self-regulation and resilience.  

We have active relationships with the Essex SEND team who are fulfilling a vital role in monitoring our progress and quality assuring the integrity of the TPP programme, ensuring the sustainability of the changes we make.