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Introduction
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Our purpose
Overview
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Learning To Trust
Before delving into the Secure Base Model and how to build a secure base at school, let's first get a deeper understanding of attachment theory and it's significance in our work! "Evidence is accumulating that human beings of all ages are happiest and able to deploy their talents to best advantage when they are confident that standing behind them, there are one or more trusted persons who will come to their aid should difficulty arise." We all like having people in our lives that we know will have our back when we face problems. It helps us face these challenges with more confidence and bravery, since we know that we aren't alone in our challenges, whether that means asking for advice about certain decisions we have to make, asking for help with practical things, or simply having someone to talk things through with and support us if we don't reach our goals. In this section we're going to explore the way that a child first starts to experience support and trust, which starts with the parents and/or primary caregivers. Let's go!
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At School
Attachment Styles
Quiz - Attachment Styles
Benefits and Goals of a Secure Base Relationship
Quiz - A Secure Base Relationship
Neurobiology of Attachment
Quiz - Neurobiology
Secure Base Model
So far, we've explored attachment styles, we've come to understand what a secure attachment looks like, and we've seen the tanglible effect on the brain. We've also seen how we, as practitioners, aim to be Supportive Adults for the child we work with, While slightly different than an attachment figure, a Supportive Adult is also meant to have a secure-base relationship with the child. From first entering school, all children’s learning and development can be supported by secure base relationships with staff members – insecure children in particular will benefit but all children feel anxious at times. These relationships will build trust, provide reassurance, reduce anxiety and so enhance children’s capacity for learning. They also enhance children’s capacity to manage their feelings and behaviour, to build self-esteem and to form co-operative relationships with staff and peers. The secure model was developed by Professor Gillian Schofield and Dr Mary Beek in the Centre for Research on Children and Families and it involves 5 areas which we should focus on for children to have a secure base at school: - Availability - Sensitivity - Acceptance - Cooperation - School membership In order to build that secure relationship with the child, we need to be reflecting on our own thoughts and feelings, the child's thoughts and feelings, and each of our actions/reactions. We start by our own thinking and feeling. It can help to think of the child's behaviour as COMMUNICATION. Through their behaviour, the child is communicating with you what they need to learn! In the diagram above, you can see how it is the staff/teacher's thoughts and feelings that influence their response to the child's behaviour, ultimately affecting that behaviour in a positive or negative direction. While a child's behaviour is initially not dependent on our own behaviour, it is our thoughts, feelings, and consequent REACTIONS to the child's behaviour that affect it later on. Therefore, it is essential that throughout the school day we have clear intentions and priorities that we will focus on, which in turn will help us react to children's decisions and behaviour in a constructive, supportive, and positive manner. Next... In the following sections we're going to discuss what we need to be thinking of throughout the day and the questions we need to be asking ourselves so we respond to children in an appropriate way for each of the areas of the Secure Base Model at Schools..
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Availability
Sensitivity
Acceptance
Cooperation
School Membership
Ending the relationship smoothly
When you enter into a supportive adult relationship with a child, you're committing to be a positive influence in their life. As a supportive adult, you have the ability to make a big difference in the child's life by providing guidance, support, and encouragement. However, eventually it is inevitable that this relationship comes to an end. It's important to recognize when this happens and take steps to terminate smoothly. Ending such a relationship can be difficult for both the adult and the child. When doing so, it's important to be honest with the child about what will happen and to give them the chance to express their feelings. It's also important to provide support and encouragement during this time of transition. By terminating the relationship smoothly, you can help ensure that the child is not left feeling abandoned or rejected. Instead, they will feel supported and cared for, even if the match did not work out as expected. Remember, as a supportive adult, your ultimate goal is to make a positive impact in the child's life, and that includes ending the relationship in a way that is respectful, kind, and compassionate.
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The wrong way to do it
Explaining Your Role
Leaving the Right Way
Quiz - Ending a match
Building and Ending a Secure Base at School

Now that we have explored the different attachment styles, we need to get a thorough understanding of WHY a secure base relationship is so important and HOW it affects relationships later on in life.

 

 

 

A secure base relationship develops when parents and other responsible adults reduce a child’s anxiety by responding to their needs consistently, appropriately, sensitively, warmly and reliably. When anxiety is reduced, the child feels secure and is able to explore, to think and to enjoy play and learning.

 

 

 

Attachment theory suggests that secure base relationships are first formed in infancy and support healthy development, including brain development, but secure base relationships can be formed at any age.

 

Attachment theory and research describes how from birth an infant will seek proximity to adult caregivers in order to get their needs met and to survive. Attachment behaviours include crying, reaching out and smiling, moving on to approaching and seeking support verbally. If the caregiver responds consistently and meets the child’s needs, from the early weeks the child will start to relax, trust, explore their environment and enjoy play.

 

One of the keys to a secure attachment is an insistence on repairing ruptures. This means that if either party behaves in a way that is unacceptable, the caregiver prioritizes making ti better and repairing that rupture. For example, if you accidentally lose your temper, shout, or react in a way that is unfair to the child, you make sure to apologize. Similarly, if the child has a tantrum for example, you make sure to soothe them.

 

Dr. Dan Siegel explains this below:

 

 

 

 

The Key Benefit

 

 

It is important to emphasise that the key benefit of secure base relationships across the lifespan is that they provide a secure base for EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT. It is not simply about receiving reliable comfort, although this is a good starting point.

 

While providing reliable comfort is undoubtedly valuable, the true essence lies in the support and encouragement they offer for us to venture into the unknown, grow, and evolve.

 

By having a secure base that we can always return to, we are empowered to take risks, learn from experiences, and reach our full potential. This environment of safety and trust nurtures our curiosity, fuels our creativity, and enables us to navigate the complexities of life with confidence and resilience.

 

In essence, secure base relationships not only provide us with stability but also serve as a springboard for personal growth and achievement.

 

(Are you starting to see the link between secure base relationships and our work in integration teaching? 😉 ;))

 

When we build a secure attachment with the child we’re working with, i.e. are a secure base for them at school, we are providing them with the safety they need to do things that might be difficult for them, to take the risk of trying to make a new friend, to navigate challenges and setbacks, and to feel confident in their ability to achieve their goals.

 

Also important to note is that attachment security and insecurity are not fixed in infancy – secure children can become insecure and insecure children can become secure if the quality of caregiving changes.

 

 

Related research

For example, this article discusses how a secure attachment in adulthood can lead adults to explore new opportunities and thus grow as an individual.

 

 

Ultimate Goal of Secure Base Relationships

 

Ultimately, the goal is for children to develop healthy personality functioning, which requires them to learn two things:


1. Ability to recognize suitable figures willing and able to provide you with a secure base

2 Ability to collaborate with such a person in a mutually rewarding relationship (exchanging roles)

 

 

Children need to have the ability to recognize suitable figures who are willing and able to provide them with a secure base. These individuals play a vital role in a child’s life by offering stability, support, and guidance. Whether it’s a parent, caregiver, teacher, or mentor, having someone who can provide a safe and nurturing environment is essential for a child’s overall well-being. By identifying these figures and forming strong connections with them, children can develop a sense of security and trust that will help them navigate life’s challenges with confidence and resilience. Furthermore, it is cruitial that they take this ability into their life later on, and maintain their skill of choosing the workplaces, romantic partners, and life-long friends who can provide them with that security so they can have a safe base from which to explore and live their lives to the fullest.

 

 

 

 

Children should have the opportunity to learn how to work together with someone who offers them a safe and trusting connection in a relationship where both parties benefit from each other’s support. This important skill of collaboration and reciprocity can serve as a foundation for their future interactions and relationships as they navigate through life’s various experiences. For example, they learn that a fight doesn’t necessarily mean a break in the relationship, that they can repair ruptures, that they can be flawed (and so can the other person) and they can expect to value and be valued by the other. By developing these abilities early on, children are better equipped to foster strong and meaningful connections with others, leading to a more fulfilling and enriched life.

 

 

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