Hearts and minds | Shropshire Council

Transforming school culture through attachment, trauma and relational practice

The Hearts and Minds Project is a bespoke school improvement programme led by Shropshire Virtual School that supports schools to develop attachment-aware, trauma-responsive and relational approaches across the whole school community. The project aims to improve outcomes for vulnerable learners while creating inclusive environments where every child feels safe, valued, understood and able to thrive.

Working in partnership with school leaders, the programme combines evidence-informed training, coaching and tailored support to help schools strengthen staff confidence, improve emotional wellbeing, enhance inclusion and embed sustainable practice.

What does the project include?

Core programme

Participating schools receive:

Attachment and Trauma Responsive School training
Emotion Coaching training and accreditation
A whole-school approach involving all staff
Pre- and post-project audits to identify strengths and measure progress
Ongoing support from Shropshire Virtual School throughout the journey

Bespoke school development

Alongside the core programme, schools identify a development priority aligned to their School Improvement Plan. Examples have included:

Relational and restorative practice
Behaviour policy development
Nurture provision
National Nurturing Schools Programme
Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
Inclusion, resilience and wellbeing initiatives
Psychoeducation and neuroscience-informed approaches

What schools can expect

Schools participating in Hearts and Minds often report:

Improved staff confidence and understanding of behaviour
Stronger relationships between adults and children
Increased emotional regulation and wellbeing
More inclusive and nurturing learning environments
Greater consistency in responses to behaviour
Enhanced attendance, engagement and readiness to learn
A stronger sense of belonging for pupils, families and staff

What is the commitment?

Schools agree to:

Engage fully in the programme and training opportunities
Identify a senior leader to champion the work
Complete baseline and follow-up audits
Embed learning into policy, practice and school culture
Work collaboratively with the Virtual School to develop and sustain change
Share learning and successes with the wider Hearts and Minds network

School voice

"Engaging with Hearts and Minds has been the best decision we could have made from an emotional wellbeing and pastoral care point of view, both for children and staff. Our staff are more confident, our young people are more able to implement taught strategies, and our families feel better supported." Primary Headteacher

Join the journey

Hearts and Minds is more than a training programme. It's a collaborative journey that supports schools to create lasting cultural change, strengthen inclusion and improve outcomes for children and young people.

For more information about joining the Hearts and Minds Project, please contact l indsay.armstrong@shropshire.gov.uk.

Shropshire Virtual School Hearts and minds