At Lansdown Park Academy, our trauma informed practice is at the heart of everything we do. Built around the principles of Protect, Relate, Regulate and Reflect, our approach ensures that every pupil feels safe, understood, valued and supported to re-engage with learning. This is particularly important for the young people we serve, many of whom have experienced significant challenges in their previous educational journeys. Staff have a strong understanding of pupils’ needs and respond with consistency, empathy and care.
Our environment is carefully designed to provide predictable routines, strong relationships and consistent emotional support. As a result, pupils quickly develop a sense of safety and belonging, enabling them to re-engage with learning and rebuild confidence in themselves. Families report significant improvements in their children’s confidence, wellbeing and readiness to learn.
This accreditation recognises not only the progress of our pupils, but also the strength of our whole-school community—where staff feel supported and valued, and where relationships underpin every aspect of school life. Parents and carers describe the school as “transformative”, with pupils feeling “safe, happy and accepted”.
We are delighted to share some reflections from the report:
“Lansdown Park Academy is a very special place. It consistently demonstrates a deeply embedded and highly authentic trauma informed culture that permeates every aspect of the school’s work.
The relational warmth and emotional attunement observed across the school create an environment in which pupils feel safe, valued and able to re-engage with education. It was a joy to watch staff engaging with students in this way.
This is a model PRU and other schools should learn from its exceptional practice.
The quality of practice observed suggests that Lansdown Park Academy is well positioned to act as a Beacon setting, sharing its expertise and supporting the development of trauma informed practice across the wider education system.”
