How to Implement PACE in Schools: A Guide on Establishing Trusting Relationships with Children

Providing emotional and relational stability for children in schools is a crucial part of their educational experience. Schools are becoming emotional ecosystems for children who seek nurturing relationships, safety, and support with mental health. Emotional safety can help promote academic success and improve interactions between students and teachers. PACE is a Trauma-informed approach that can be implemented in schools to support the whole child. Fostering secure and trusting relationships and improving emotional regulation.

What is PACE?

PACE is a form of trauma-informed language developed by Psychologist Dan Hughes. Its original aim was to repair relationships between traumatised children and their caregivers. If used in daily interactions, PACE is also highly effective in schools and can foster emotional connection.

What does PACE stand for?

• Playfulness
• Acceptance
• Curiosity
• Empathy
• Parents, carers, therapists, and educational professionals can use PACE.
• Approach can play a pivotal role in educational settings.
• PACE was developed through research in attachment theory and neuroscience.
• Fosters safe relationships, allowing children to build secure connections.

At appropriate times, we can use PACE

In everyday interactions

We can implement PACE in everyday reactions when working with children who have attachment difficulties with adults. This consistency will strengthen the relationship over time.

During emotional dysregulation

PACE is most effective when you continuously use the approach during dysregulation.

Using PACE will also help the adult stay calm, rather than reactive.

Relationship repair after dysregulation

Once a child is in a position where they are calm and regulated, you can use PACE when repairing relationships after an incident.

An important point to remember

PACE does not have to be used in the order it's written. Adapt to the situation you're in.

If the playful approach isn't working, perhaps the child needs more empathy first.

It takes practice, and it can take time to use the right approach; all children are different.

You can use PACE with the parents of the children you're working with.

Some examples of PACE in practice

Playfulness

• Help diffuse heightened situations and lighten the mood.
• Remember that playfulness may not be appropriate in the immediate moment of a risky situation.
• Can be an approach to use in a low-level situation, before a child is at a crisis point.
• Scenario: You are trying to calm a young person down, and they throw an insult at you, "I hate you so much, your hair's disgusting" - Your playful response - "My hair's that bad!? Better get to the hairdressers asap!"

Acceptance

• Validate a child's feelings.
• Non-judgmental - it's ok to feel how they feel. We are accepting the feelings behind the child's behaviour.
• We still need to let the child know if their behaviour isn't acceptable to us.

Curiosity

• Demonstrate a genuine interest in why they are displaying the behaviour.
• Being curious about a child's behaviour helps them make sense of feelings they may not understand.
• Curious language needs to be non-threatening.
• Ask open-ended questions and show a genuine interest.
• Scenario: Child is dysregulated and knocks over chairs in the classroom. Your curious response - "It seems like you're having a difficult time right now. I wonder what's going on?"

Empathy

• Displaying empathy is crucial.
• Put ourselves in their shoes and feel what they feel.
• We are not there to fix them but be there with them in the moment.
• Make sure you allow the child to feel understood.

Support for Educators and Caregivers

We understand that supporting children with SEND has its challenges and can, at times, take a toll on your well-being. If you are struggling in a particular placement and need some support and advice, we are always here to help you. Please reach out to Karla Tondel at Five Education and arrange weekly check-ins for advice, support, and guidance to help you with your work and provide you with a safe space to talk. Please call 07978983657 or email karla@fiveeducation.co.uk to schedule a chat. If you're looking for a role in September supporting children with SEND, you can take a look at our website or jobs page. We will support you every step of the way during your time with Five Education.