Across Cumbria Education Trust, many primary schools have embraced their newly implemented Safe Spaces. These rooms are designed to offer a secure, nurturing environment for children affected by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and for those who just need a safe space temporarily while they learn strategies to self regulate their emotions. This initiative is central to CET’s commitment to tailoring educational experiences for children, focusing on emotional wellbeing and supporting their success.
Already, schools are seeing notable improvements in attendance, classroom behaviour, self-regulation, and overall wellbeing, along with fewer escalations and reduced need for parental intervention throughout the day.
Why Safe Spaces Matter
ACEs, such as abuse, neglect, parent separation or other traumatic events can have significant and lasting effects on a child’s development. Safe spaces offer a sanctuary where children can heal, grow, and feel understood, giving them time and a calm environment to process their feelings. Donna Lund, Trauma Awareness practitioner commented: “Over the past few years, I have delivered courses to numerous families in helping them understand the cause of their children’s emotions, behaviours and responses and how it relates to early life experiences and/or generational trauma.
“My research into ACEs led me to the idea of creating these Safe Spaces, so children feel empowered to explore their thoughts and feelings around their traumatic events, in a comfortable dedicated and supportive space. After securing funding Cumberland Council, CET agreed to contribute further funding so that we could invest in the necessary resources and we set to work.”
Key Benefits of Safe Spaces:
- Emotional Support – safe spaces allow children to express their feelings and emotions without fear of judgment. This can help them process their experiences and reduce anxiety.
- Building Resilience – by providing a stable and predictable environment, safe spaces help children develop resilience. Activities like mindfulness, play therapy, and emotion coaching are often used to support this.
- Positive Relationships – these spaces foster positive relationships with trusted adults and peers, which are essential for the emotional and social development of children with ACEs.
- Behavioural Interventions – Safe spaces often incorporate programmes that address behavioural issues through restorative practices rather than punitive measures. This approach helps children learn constructive ways to manage their behaviour.
- Academic Support – schools and other institutions use safe spaces to provide additional academic support, ensuring that children with ACEs do not fall behind in their education.
The effects of these Safe Spaces has already been noticed by staff, parents and children.
One parent said: “The support at my child’s school has been amazing and has been enhanced by the recent provision of the incredible Safe Space. My child has used this Space several times and have been able to discuss their anxieties and worries. The Safe Space has clearly been developed and researched expertly. By having this resource now reassures both me and my child that its there if and when needed.”
Children are enjoying using this space too, as one child reflected: “I get calmer quicker and can walk around and breath and do things in there that I do not want to do outside. It lets my head be calm. My teachers talk to me nice and calm in there, they listen and I can tell them things” and another children added: “I love the Safe Space as its quiet”.
One staff member commented: “The Safe Space is a fantastic provision, and we have already have seen how children are opening up more, due to the stable and predictable space, which will support their ACES in the future”.
Sue Newstead, Director of Learning Provision, commented, “Safe spaces are more than a physical location – they are a lifeline for children dealing with the challenges of ACEs and where children do not yet have the skills to self regulate independently. By jointly prioritising their emotional and academic needs, we are creating an environment where every child feels valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.”
Caldew Lea Primary School, Newtown Primary School, Petteril Bank School and Yewdale Primary School have all had Safe Space rooms created in their schools, to help those children who need it most. There are plans to add more Safe Spaces to other schools across the Trust, providing a crucial space for those who need it.
