PACE Schools: A Trauma-Informed Approach for Today’s Pupils (1)

PACE Schools Blog Series: Part One

In today’s schools, more and more educators are working with children who have experienced trauma and have unmet attachment needs. These pupils may struggle to trust adults, regulate their emotions, or feel safe enough to learn—and yet they are often the ones most in need of connection, patience, and care.

As teachers and support staff, you’re not expected to be therapists, but you can offer something profoundly therapeutic: a safe, attuned relationship built on trust. That’s where Dan Hughes’ PACE model comes in.

What are PACE Schools?

The PACE model—short for Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy—was developed by clinical psychologist Dan Hughes to support children with trauma and attachment difficulties.

In PACE schools, these principles are woven into everyday interactions, helping adults connect with children, co-regulate emotions, and create an environment where healing and learning can happen.

When used consistently, PACE in schools can transform the way pupils respond to stress, relationships, and learning. It provides a compassionate lens for understanding behaviour and helps create emotionally safe classrooms—especially for those with complex needs.

Why PACE Schools Are So Effective in Trauma-Informed Education

If you’ve ever felt stuck supporting a child who seems unreachable—who shuts down, lashes out, or constantly pushes adults away—you’re not alone. Many of these behaviours are rooted in fear, not defiance.

Traditional behaviour management strategies often fall short because they don’t address what’s happening underneath the behaviour. That’s why more schools are turning to trauma-informed approaches like PACE.

Here’s what makes PACE schools so effective:

• 🛡️ They build trust and safety. PACE helps children feel seen, heard and emotionally held—crucial foundations for learning.

• 🧠 They support emotional regulation. Co-regulation with a trusted adult teaches pupils to name, manage, and move through big emotions.

• 🤝 They promote secure relationships. Many children with unmet attachment needs expect rejection; PACE offers consistent, caring connection instead.

• 🌱 They nurture resilience and growth. Safe, accepting classrooms encourage pupils to take risks, try new things, and bounce back from setbacks.

What to expect from this PACE Schools Blog Series

Over the coming weeks, we’ll share 8 top tips for using PACE in Schools, with one post dedicated to each core component of the model:

• How Playfulness builds trust and lowers defences

• How Acceptance helps pupils feel safe and valued

• How Curiosity opens the door to deeper understanding

• How Empathy supports emotional healing and resilience

Each post will be grounded in real-life examples and practical strategies you can use right away—even in a busy classroom. These are actionable, trauma-informed classroom strategies that work across key stages.

Together, we’ll explore how to integrate the PACE mindset into your everyday teaching, regardless of your role or setting.

✅ What to do next?

1. 📬 Sign up for our email list below 👇  so you don’t miss the next post in this series. PACE Schools also receive bonus tools and practical strategies to support trauma-informed practice, but don’t worry – we don’t spam!
2. 🎓 Secure your place on our PACE Mindset for Schools training in October or November.

P.S. If you’re unsure whether this is right for your team, drop Tori a message. We’re happy to chat about what’s going on in your school and how PACE could help.