North Star Academy Trust - Bristol

Many of the pupils at North Star Academy Trust have experienced some form of trauma in their early lives or have been subject to ACESs (adverse childhood experiences). This can leave young people feeling that they are not safe in high challenge environments and more generally, which often leads to hypervigilant behaviours. Many of our students also find it difficult to trust that adults will keep them safe and protect them from physical, or emotional, threat or harm. This often drives pupils to attempt to protect themselves by controlling the environments around them.When working with students who are seeking to do this, it is vital that the adults demonstrate that they are in control of the environment, so that all pupils feel safe and secure. Over time, this allows pupils to feel safe and relaxed and they are then able to engage with learning effectively, something that they may have struggled with in the past. Therefore, before any lesson begins, staff need to ensure that the environment presents as a safe and welcoming space where students can feel ready to engage with their learning.