At The Kassia Academy we offer children age 11-16 the opportunity to re-engage with education and access a wide range of therapeutic support to support them with current and historical trauma.
With an experienced staff team, thoroughly trained in the latest trauma informed and neuro-scientific approaches, we strive to equip our learners with the tools and strategies they need in order to cope with their childhood trauma, access their education and be successful in their lives.
Our learners often have high “Adverse Childhood Experience” scores (ACEs) and have been unable to experience success within the constraints of a mainstream school. Many of our learners arrive in crisis and require trauma informed approaches and therapeutic support to enable them to access their learning.
Our therapeutic approach focuses on many aspects of our young peoples needs. From the re-engagement in their education, acceptance of SEND needs, building relationships with peers and adults, coping with childhood trauma, support with addictions and behavioural disorders being just some of the barriers they face.
Our Therapeutic Intervention Programme has been developed through a wide range research around trauma informed practice.
Through engaging learners in therapeutic interventions we hope to provide our learners with wrap around care and an intense support package that in time will enable them to overcome the barriers they face both inside and outside of the school environment. Delivered by trained staff and external agencies interventions are often identified by the referring school during induction however pastoral staff will continue to refer learners for interventions throughout their time with us.
Interventions:
Growth Mindset • Anxiety • Relationships • Low Mood • Body Image • Mindfulness • Anger Management • Managing Stress • Resilience • Positive Thinking • Bereavement • Young Carer Support • Play Therapy • Talk Therapy • Journaling • Animal Therapy • Art Therapy • Counselling • Music Therapy • Baking
When re-designing our Environment at The Kassia Academy, we turned to Trauma Informed research to ensure all of our centres were calm and comfortable spaces with muted, natural colour schemes and a range of textured soft furnishings to support sensory and SEND needs.
Decorated in a calming palette of soft greens, greys and creams with natural materials, soft lighting and plants in every classroom it was our aim to create naturally calming areas. Learners have access to cozy reading snugs, calming social spaces and quiet break out areas in which they can remove themselves when they need to. Classrooms are uncluttered with a consistent colour palette, minimal displays and a range of seating options to suit each child's needs. Learners have access to sensory support such as fiddle toys, doodle white boards and weighted blankets to support SEND needs.
