Eleven areas, one clear picture
Six key emotional systems and five executive functions, assessed together.
Six emotional systems
Based on neuroscience research into how our brains respond to safety and threat.
Triggers pro-social chemicals
Warmth, kindness and trust in others.
Curiosity, drive and the wish to explore and learn.
Fun, creativity and the joy of being with others.
Triggers stress hormones
Worry and anxiety, helpful in danger but exhausting when stuck on.
Anger and frustration, healthy for setting boundaries, harmful when it takes over.
Loss, separation, sadness and overwhelm.
Five executive functions
The five executive functions enable assessment of how well children and young people are developing concepts of mental health, emotional wellbeing and building connections in learning.
Experience a feeling and make choices about how and whether to respond
Build independent learning skills
Become confident and steady
Social engagement system functioning well
Perceptive, sensitive and self-aware
When a child seems to do "too much"
A child who constantly puts others first can look as if their CARE system is over-active. Often it's the opposite: they're trying to get their own need for care met by caring for others.
Free to Fly helps adults see apparent over-activation as a self-help strategy, so we meet the need instead of just reducing the behaviour.
What unmet need is the child trying to get met?
PROTECT. RELATE. REGULATE. REFLECT.
Every plan follows the four stages of the PRRR approach from Trauma Informed Schools UK.
PROTECT
"Somewhere with someone": a safe place and a trusted adult.
RELATE
"Connection before correction": warm, steady relationships.
REGULATE
Calming stress together, through co-regulation.
REFLECT
"Help me understand": making sense of feelings and experiences.
Research you can trust
Dr Margot Sunderland
British Medical Association award-winning author, Child and Adult Psychotherapist, Founding Director of IATE and Co-Director of TISCUK.
Trauma Informed Schools UK
Training school staff, and anyone working with children, young people and their families, in trauma informed practice. Free to Fly complements the TISCUK Diploma.
Over 1,000 studies
The TISCUK model draws on more than 1,000 pieces of published research.
See the approach in action
Explore the full system for 30 days in your own demo school.