Study: Trauma-Informed Practice Boosts Emotional Skills in Disadvantaged Dublin School
A study at Our Lady Immaculate Senior National School in disadvantaged Darndale, Dublin, found that trauma-informed practice (TIP) significantly improved children’s emotional skills. Despite initial funding refusal from the Department of Education, the school secured support, leading to enhanced emotional regulation and learning for pupils. A parent praised TIP for teaching children to understand and manage their emotions effectively.
A study found that meeting basic needs and implementing trauma-informed practice (TIP) at Our Lady Immaculate Senior National School in Darndale, Dublin, significantly improved children’s emotional literacy and regulation skills. Darndale is classified as «extremely disadvantaged» by Pobal, with high unemployment and low third-level education rates, and 75% of households with children headed by lone parents.
Principal Shane Loftus described the Department of Education’s initial 2022 refusal to fund TIP implementation as «infuriating.» The school, however, secured funding from Dublin City Council, the HSE, and anonymous benefactors. The Department has since recognized trauma as a key issue, incorporating it into its new Deis-plus scheme, which targets 121 schools, including Our Lady Immaculate, with enhanced supports.
TIP shifts from punitive behavior management to understanding children’s actions preventatively. Key tools include «thermometers of regulation» — color-coded charts for emotions (blue for freezing, green for calm, amber for anxious, red for loss of control) — and regular check-ins with staff. Children learn breathing and counting techniques. The school also provides «calm areas,» «regulation boxes» with comforting items, and a dedicated «nest» for pupils with higher needs.
Beyond emotional support, the school ensures every child receives a clean towel weekly, daily breakfast, and a hot lunch. Tamara Kearns, a parent, noted TIP has taught her sons to understand and respond to their emotions, fostering self-awareness and kindness. She advocates for its widespread adoption in all schools.