Last week we had the pleasure of welcoming Keeley Zmaczynska, Esme Vine and Jeremy Donaldson from Torbay Council Social Care team. Three inspiring AYSE social workers, for a full day immersed in what it means to be a truly trauma-informed, relational school.
From classroom observations and curriculum discussions to hands-on wellbeing and safeguarding sessions, the day was about more than theory. It was about connection, reflection, and real practice.
Together, we explored and took art in:
• Honest conversations around behaviour, and behaviour as communication, not defiance
• The neuroscience of trauma and relational safety
• How curriculum design and wellbeing work hand in hand
• Sensory regulation and therapeutic support in action across our school
A huge thank you to the Phoenix Bay team Laura Secker, Ben Miller, Alice Dean, Nathan Coombes, Amy Whiteley and or course Springer 😊, for leading such powerful sessions and showing, once again, why we say we’re ‘More than just a school’.
And to our guests from Torbay Council, thank you for bringing such curiosity, openness, and heart. You embodied the reflective spirit that makes collaboration between education and social care so vital.
Days like this remind us that when professionals across sectors learn together, young people benefit most.
Because building bridges between education and social care isn’t extra, it’s essential.
