How The Timian Programme Equips Educators to Support Children in Crisis
Schools should be havens for learning and growth, yet for many children, the educational journey is overshadowed by unseen struggles. A growing number of young people are experiencing mental health crises within school walls, a situation often intertwined with the profound impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). When these children exhibit challenging behaviours, born from crisis and trauma, the response can sometimes involve physical restraint – a practice that can be dangerous and re-traumatising.
The JL Academy, through its delivery of the Timian training programme, recognises the need to equip educators with the skills and understanding to navigate these complex situations effectively and compassionately. The significant overlap between rising mental health concerns and the high prevalence of ACEs means schools are on the frontline, and traditional responses are often not just inadequate, but potentially harmful.
The Timian Approach: Building a Foundation of Understanding and Safety
The Timian programme offers a comprehensive, person-centered approach that moves beyond mere compliance and towards creating truly supportive and trauma-informed environments. It acknowledges that behaviour is a form of communication, often signaling underlying distress or unmet needs.
Key elements of the Timian training that directly address the challenges highlighted include:
- Trauma-Informed Services: A core component of the Timian curriculum is understanding the impact of trauma on a child’s development and behaviour. This knowledge empowers educators to respond with empathy and create a sense of safety, crucial for children who have experienced ACEs.
- Building Healthy Relationships: The programme emphasizes the importance of positive and consistent relationships as a foundation for well-being and learning. For children facing adversity, a trusted adult at school can be a powerful protective factor.
- Understanding Behaviour: Timian training delves into the functions of behaviour, helping staff to look beyond the surface and understand the root causes. This includes recognising how Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs can be applied to understand a child’s behaviour, especially during a crisis.
- Communication and De-escalation: Effective communication is paramount. The Timian programme provides strategies for interpersonal communication and de-escalation, aiming to resolve situations positively and reduce the need for restrictive interventions. The SPACED model, for example, offers a structured approach to managing challenging situations.
- Graded Interventions and Reducing Restrictive Practices: The training promotes a graded approach to intervention, prioritising the least restrictive methods. It critically examines restrictive practices, highlighting why their reduction is vital, particularly for children with trauma histories. The focus is on proactive strategies and creating an environment where challenging behaviours are less likely to occur.
- Ethical Frameworks and Legal Understanding: Timian training is grounded in a strong ethical approach, ensuring that all interventions respect the rights and dignity of the child. It provides clarity on the legal frameworks surrounding the use of force and restrictive practices.
- Debriefing: The importance of debriefing after an incident is emphasized, for both the child and the staff involved. This reflective practice supports learning, emotional processing, and the continuous improvement of support strategies.
JL Academy: Championing Safer, More Supportive Schools
By delivering the Timian training programme, JL Academy is committed to helping schools become places where all children feel safe, understood, and supported. It’s about shifting the focus from managing behaviour to nurturing well-being, recognizing that children in crisis need compassion and skilled intervention, not further trauma.
The Timian approach, with its emphasis on understanding trauma, building relationships, and utilising de-escalation and positive support strategies, offers a vital alternative to outdated and potentially harmful practices. It empowers educators to not only manage crises effectively but, more importantly, to help prevent them by fostering an environment where every child has the opportunity to thrive.
Investing in the Timian Programme is an investment in our children’s futures, creating school communities that truly understand and can respond to the unseen struggles many young people face.
James Hourihan BScEcon | MScEcon | PGCert LDis | MIoD | FRSA
Senior Lead Trainer Timian Learning and Development
Director
JL Academy Ltd
