Information

The information below can be used to support and extend your practice and provision, but all professionals must also have regard to relevant legislation and regulation.

  • Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families

    Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families supports the mental health of children through research, training and treatment and offers free resources supporting children’s mental health.

    They also offer two free, professional networks: Early Years in Mind and Schools in Mind.

    Beacon House

    Beacon House is a therapeutic service with a specialist interest in working with those who have experienced trauma and loss and offers information and resources around the impact and repair of trauma and adversity.

    BraveHeart Education

    BraveHeart Education educates and supports those living with or working with vulnerable children – whether they are looked after, adopted or in challenging home environments.

    Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma

    Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma is an organisation combining resources, research and knowledge from experts across the sector.

    Ed Psych Insight

    EdPsychInsight attachment and trauma resources – Dr Chris Moore has created a blog and accompanying resources related to Attachment and Trauma, including individual infographic sheets about each element of PACE.

    Out Of Home Care Toolbox

    Out Of Home Care Toolbox provides accessible information for the supporters and carers of young people aged 12-18 years in out of home care.

    It provides descriptions of Trauma, Attachment and Adolescent Development amongst other supporting information.

  • PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy) is an approach developed by the clinical psychologist, Dan Hughes. It is an attitude and a way of being with a child or young person that can promote greater feelings of safety.

    This approach can be beneficial for all children and young people as it supports the development and maintenance of healthy relationships, and as such it is particularly important to foster PACE with children who have experienced Trauma. Further information, advice and guidance regarding PACE can be found below.

    Cardiff and Vale University Health Board - Resilience Project

    Oxfordshire - The Attach Team

    Oxfordshire - The Attach Team - Using PACE in School.

  • Adoption UK

    Adoption UK is a charity providing support, community and advocacy for all those whose lives involve adoption, including those parenting children who cannot live with their birth families and adopted people.

    Adoption South East

    Adoption South East is the regional adoption agency comprising four partner agencies: Brighton and Hove; East Sussex; Surrey and West Sussex. Adoption South East has an ongoing commitment to supporting adopted children and their families.

    PAC-UK

    PAC-UK is an Adoption Support Agency and is part of Family Action. They provide specialist support for all parties affected by adoption and permanency.

    Parents and Children Together - PACT

    Parents and Children Together - PACT is a voluntary adoption agency offering information, support and training.

    Family Futures

    Family Futures is an independent adoption and fostering agency in London. They provide assessment and treatment services for children who have experienced trauma, as well as providing support to adoptive parents, special guardians, kinship carers and foster carers.

    • Apprenticeships - This resource helps young people to explore a range of resources designed to help inspire and support the apprentices of tomorrow. It guides you on how to make an application, research if the apprenticeship is right for you and explains the process and next steps.
    • National Youth Advisory Service - NYAS offers child and family advocacy services, alongside a range of additional support. They offer targeted support service for care experienced children and young people, vulnerable adults, families and sector professionals across England and Wales.
    • Propel - Propel is a fantastic resource that helps, supports and advises young people about possible next steps in terms of university education. They will explain and guide the young person on many aspects including finance, loans, UCAS applications and accommodation.
    • Your Space - Information and advice portal for post-16 young people covering the following aspects: Life, places to go, support, health, downtime, work, education, youth voice, youth participation and UKYP.
    • Reaching Families - Reaching Families is a parent-carer led, grassroots charity which aims to support parents and families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in their daily lives, in particular through the delivery of information, training and peer support. 
    • SEND Under 5s - The SEND under 5s process seeks to establish proactive, practical support for families at an early stage, as well as identification of the support needed throughout their early years and into school. The process will be overseen by the early years and childcare advisers who provide inclusion support within pre-school settings.
    • West Sussex Local Offer - The West Sussex Local Offer helps you find information about local services, support and events for children and young people aged 0 - 25 years who have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).
    • West Sussex SEND Strategy 2019 – 2024 - In West Sussex we want all children and young people to the gain the skills and confidence they need to live well in their community. Children and young people should be supported and nurtured through an educational system that responds to their circumstances, learning needs and abilities in order to prepares them for adulthood. To help up to achieve this vision we have co-produced a SEND and inclusion strategy with parent carers, young people, education providers and professionals from social care, health and education.
    • West Sussex SEND IAS - West Sussex SEND IAS (SEND Information, Advice and Support) Service provides information, advice and support to children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and to their parent carers.
    • West Sussex Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) – Information, support and advice for parents and carers of children and young people with SEND, and those who may have SEND.
    • Admissions - The Pupil Admission Team coordinates the admission of children starting school and junior and secondary transfers in West Sussex. This is part of the national scheme of co-ordination.

      It also co-ordinates all in-year admissions for community and controlled schools and many of the academy schools. It advises parents and schools on admissions and applying for a school place, except for children with Education Health Care Plans.

      This also includes dedicated information regarding School places for looked after and previously looked after children - WSCC.
    • Adoption and Fostering – Information about adopting or fostering a child in West Sussex.
    • The Educational Psychology Service (EPS) - Offers the opportunity for school staff and those with parental responsibility for any child or young person to consult with an Educational Psychologist where there are concerns around development, learning and social and emotional wellbeing. This includes the children and young people supported by the Virtual School Advisory Service.

      The focus of the telephone consultation can be at a whole school, class, or individual level. The EP does not undertake any follow up work, assessments or ask others to do assessments solely as a result of the consultation.

      Education providers, and those with parental responsibility can book a 30 minute consultation.
    • Information for childcare providers – West Sussex information and guidance for new or established childcare providers regarding practice and provision.
    • Services Supporting Schools and Settings – Contact details for a range of West Sussex services that support schools and settings, including LBAT, ASCT and Fair Access Team.
    • Tools for Schools - Resources and information to support the inclusion of all West Sussex children and young people in early years, schools, post 16 and other education settings.
    • Your Space - Information and advice portal for post-16 young people covering the following aspects: Life, places to go, support, health, downtime, work, education, youth voice, youth participation and UKYP.
    • West Sussex information for families - guidance and information for families in West Sussex.

  • Reach2Teach app

    The Reach2Teach awareness and behaviour app gives all those working with children and adolescents in (and outside school) an attachment aware and trauma informed approach to some of the behaviours that crop up and challenge us all day, every day in schools of every shape, size and age range.

    The app will guide you through the child's needs that might be driving their behaviour: give you insight into the potential attachment pattern associated with each behaviour: and provides a wide-range of instantly usable, highly practical approaches/actions all built on relationship with every pupil.    

    To access the app, please contact tina.marshall@westsussex.gov.uk. You will be prompted to create an account with CourseWeDo after which you will be able to have unlimited access at no cost to you (the checkout total will show £0 after you have created your account).