ACES - Adverse Childhood Experiences

Almost half of children and young people living in the UK have experienced one or more forms of adversity.

ACEs can impact a child’s development, their relationships with others, and increase the risk of engaging in health-harming behaviours. Young people who have experienced ACEs are at increased risk of experiencing poorer mental and physical health outcomes in adulthood.

At EST Education we recognise that the children in our care may have experienced trauma and ACEs, and that as practitioners, we can help to adopt a more empathic approach to our work, showing young people the kindness and respect needed to help them to feel more understood, developing healthier relationships and promoting engagement long-term.

Helping a young person to build positive, healthy friendships and relationships, experience new things and gain a sense of achievement can help to reduce any long-term impact of trauma on a young person’s mental health and life opportunities, giving them the opportunity to properly develop, stay healthy and reach their full potential.

“You can’t make someone feel less pressured and anxious using pressure and anxiety.”

Dr Naomi Fisher

Clinical Psychologist