1st Edition

Polyvagal Theory in the Classroom A Guide to Empower Educators and Support Dysregulated Children and Young People

By Sarah Butler Copyright 2024
    164 Pages 13 B/W Illustrations
    by Speechmark

    164 Pages 13 B/W Illustrations
    by Speechmark

    Polyvagal Theory provides a breakdown of how the nervous system responds and reacts to unconscious messages of safety and threat. This accessible guide explores Polyvagal Theory and its potential for fully understanding and supporting the behaviours of children and young people in emotional distress at school.

    By exploring how early childhood experiences - such as abuse, trauma, an insecure attachment, or bereavement - can have a detrimental impact on the development of the child’s nervous system, we can view their behaviours in a new light.

    Polyvagal Theory in the Classroom:

     - Contains a wealth of activities to use in the classroom

    - Delves into new understandings of what is happening to children and young people when they become dysregulated

    - Introduces practical ways to support pupils' emotional wellbeing, promote better mental health, and help to develop their capacity to self-regulate

    - Contains exercises which provide opportunities for the reader to reflect on their own practice.

    Packed full of case studies to bring theory to life, this book builds skills to gain awareness and control of our own nervous systems and to become the safe and calm presence for the overwhelmed child. This empowering book is essential reading for mainstream primary and secondary teachers, SENCOs and teaching support staff.

     

    Introduction

     

    Part 1: Understanding Polyvagal Theory

    Chapter 1 - What is Polyvagal Theory?

    Background

    The Central Nervous System

    The Autonomic Nervous System

    The Evolution of the Brain

    The Sympathetic Nervous System

    The Parasympathetic Nervous System

    The Vagus Nerve

    Ventral Vagal Nerve

    Dorsal Vagal Nerve

    The Three Autonomic States

    Blended States (Dual Activation)

    Signs of Threat and Signs of Safety

    Emotional Regulation

    Summary

     

    Chapter 2 – Polyvagal Theory and Child Development

    Piaget – Cognitive Development Theory

    Erikson – Psychosocial Development Theory

    Vygotsky – Sociocultural Theory

    Bowlby – Attachment Theory

    Other Ideas about Child Development – Klein and Winnicott

    Pulling The Ideas Together

    Summary

     

    Chapter 3 – Polyvagal Theory and Childhood Trauma

    Defining Trauma

    Early Trauma and Brain Development

    The Biased ANS

    Hormones

    Connection – Protection

    Summary

     

    Chapter 4 – Seeing your pupils through the Lens of Polyvagal Theory

    The Meaning of Behaviour

    Self-Regulation, Co-regulation and Dysregulation

    Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic

    Neurodevelopmental Conditions

    Tracking Autonomic States

    Renaming the Autonomic States

    Summary

     

    Chapter 5 – Getting to know your Autonomic Nervous System

    ANS Tracking

    Body and Breath

    Regulation through Rhythm

    Sensory Soothing

    Mindful Moments

    Brain workouts and Being your Best Friend

    Calming Creativity

    The Power of Pets

    Summary

     

    Chapter 6 – Calming the Dysregulated Child

    Be Safe: Removing the threat

    Feel Safe: Tuning in to your own ANS

    Connect: Body Tracking, Breathing, Moving

    Summary

     

    Chapter 7 – A Whole School Approach

    The Current Climate

    School as a Container

    Safety Starts at the Top

    The Ventral Vagal Net

    Transitions

    Trauma-Informed, Attachment Aware, and other Approaches

    Summary

     

     

    Part 2: Using Polyvagal Theory with Pupils

    1.     Warm-ups

    2.     Creating a Safe Space – Boundary Setting

    3.     Psychoeducation

    4.     Self-awareness

    5.     Connecting to the Body

    6.     Connecting to Others

    7.     Self-soothing

    8.     The Connection Diet

    Summary

     

    Final Thoughts

    Glossary

    References

    Index

    Biography

    Sarah Butler is a child and adolescent therapist, offering bespoke guidance on therapeutic approaches to managing the behaviours of children who have experienced trauma, bereavement, abuse and/or insecure attachments. Sarah is also an experienced teacher, having worked in mainstream secondary schools and alternative provisions, including more than a decade teaching in a hospital school within an adolescent psychiatric unit, where she developed and delivered mental health awareness training to local schools and trainee teachers.