Supporting Every Child's Journey

What is Making Connections?

"Making Connections" is an initiative led by MK Virtual School in partnership with the Attachment Research Community. Our goal is to become a Trauma Informed Attachment Aware School, where every child feels safe, understood, and supported.

What Does “Trauma-Informed” Mean?

Being trauma-informed means we:

• Recognise that past experiences, such as loss, stress, or instability, can affect how children behave and learn.
• Respond to behaviour with empathy and understanding, not just discipline.
• Focus on building safe, trusting relationships between staff and students.
• Help children learn to regulate their emotions and feel secure in school.

Why Is This Important?

Some children may act out, withdraw, or struggle to concentrate—not because they’re “naughty,” but because they’re overwhelmed or hurting. By asking “What’s happened to this child?” instead of “What’s wrong with them?”, we can offer the right support.

How Do We Support Children?

• We use consistent routines and clear boundaries to help children feel safe.
• Staff are trained to respond with compassion and patience.
• We prioritise connection before correction—building trust before addressing behaviour.
• We work closely with families to understand each child’s needs.

How You Can Get Involved

We believe that parents and carers are key partners in this journey. Here's how you can engage:

• Attend our October Parents Evenings to learn more
• Look out for further updates and resources on our Facebook page.

Contact Us

If you have questions or would like to talk more about the project, please reach out to:

M Robertson
Inclusion & Wellbeing Lead
📧 mrobertson@cts.odbst.org
📞 01908 867356