Trauma in Childhood: Addressing the Impact of Adverse Experiences on Child Health and Wellbeing (Level 5 UNIT)

Course Overview

This unit explores the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on children’s health, development and wellbeing, and considers how early years practitioners can support recovery and resilience. Students will examine a wide range of ACEs, including abuse, neglect, domestic violence, parental mental illness, poverty and bereavement, alongside neuroscientific evidence of how trauma affects the developing brain. The unit introduces key theories and research that link early trauma to long-term physical, emotional and social difficulties.Learners will review strategies that help to alleviate the effects of trauma, such as play therapy, counselling, family support and nurture groups, and consider how these can be applied in practice. Building resilience is emphasised as a protective factor, with a focus on attachment, self-awareness and positive relationships. Students will also explore preventative interventions, including government policies, family support programmes and community-based initiatives, and evaluate their effectiveness.Overall, the unit equips practitioners with the knowledge and critical insight to adopt trauma-informed approaches, support children and families, and contribute to strategies that promote positive outcomes across the life course.