How Trauma-Informed Schools Improve Outcomes for Children and Staff

The recent social care reform has placed a renewed emphasis on creating environments where children can thrive despite adversity.

For local authorities, this is not just a policy shift, it’s a call to action. Schools are at the heart of this transformation, and adopting trauma-informed approaches is proving to be one of the most impactful strategies for improving outcomes for both children and staff.

Why Trauma-Informed Practice Matters

Children affected by trauma, whether through domestic abuse, neglect, or other adverse experiences, often struggle with emotional regulation, concentration, and trust. Traditional disciplinary approaches can unintentionally compound these challenges, leading to exclusion, poor academic performance, and long-term negative outcomes.

Trauma-informed schools flip this narrative. They recognise that behaviour is a communication of unmet needs and distress, not defiance. By embedding understanding and compassion into policies, training, and daily interactions, these schools create safe spaces where children feel seen, heard, and supported.

In 2024, in Peterborough there was a clear gap in service provision supporting child victims of domestic abuse in the community. Having delivered Healing Together successfully at our refuge we received funding from the NHS to expand our delivery into schools.

The delivery of the Programme enabled vulnerable and at-risk children to recognise and manage their emotions through the strategies delivered on the Programme. I would highly recommend Healing Together to other organisation who are supporting child victims of abuse.

Mandy Geraghty, CEO
Peterborough women’s aid

The Ripple Effect on Outcomes

Research and real-world implementation show that trauma-informed approaches lead to:

• Improved academic performance: When children feel safe and supported, cognitive resources shift from survival to learning.
• Emotional regulation and attendance: Reduced exclusions and increased engagement are common outcomes.
• Enhanced emotional wellbeing: Children learn lifelong skills that supports them to notice when they are feeling dysregulated and utilise body based calming tools to help their body and brain feel safe and calm again.
• Staff wellbeing and retention: Trauma-informed cultures reduces staff absence and turn over by equipping staff with tools to support the children they are caring for and being able to process the emotional load they are exposed to in a safe environment.

This is not just theory, it’s happening now. Innovating Minds has worked with schools and local authorities to implement trauma-informed frameworks that transform schools into healing environments. The results speak for themselves: fewer exclusions, stronger relationships, and improved staff morale. 👉 Read our impact Reports

Strategies for Successful Implementation

1. Leadership Commitment: Change starts at the top. Senior leaders must champion trauma-informed principles and allocate resources for training and support.
2. Whole-School Training: Every adult in the school, from teachers to administrative staff, needs to understand trauma and its impact.
3. Policy Alignment: Behaviour policies shift to become relational focused and flexible to meet the needs of the students, rather than focused on punitive based approaches.
4. Ongoing Support: Implementation is not a one-off event. Continuous access to reflective practice and clinical supervision are essential for sustainability.

Connecting to Social Care Reform

The Families First agenda and wider social care reforms demand integrated, preventative approaches. Trauma-informed schools are a critical piece of this puzzle. They reduce the need for crisis interventions and create pathways for early help, aligning perfectly with the reform’s vision of holistic, family-centred support.

It’s Time to Act

If you are a commissioning manager, transformation lead, or director in children’s social care, now is the time to act. Trauma-informed practice is not an optional extra, it’s a necessity for meeting the outcomes set out in the reform and for building a future where every child can flourish.

Let’s start the conversation.

👉 Book a free consultation with Dr Asha Patel and explore how Innovating Minds can support your schools and services in embedding trauma-informed approaches.

Together, we can create environments where healing and learning go hand in hand.