At Music Stuff Education, we are committed to providing a safe, calm, welcoming, and nurturing environment where every student can thrive. Our goal is to break down barriers and create a setting that supports effective learning, enabling pupils to fully engage with our broad curriculum, and empowering them to achieve their highest potential. We aim to ensure that our school has a culture, ethos and practice that strengthens relational approaches and inclusion, recognising the importance of psychological safety. Our school implements Thrive – a trauma-informed whole-school approach to improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. 

We also use the stance of PACE and the communication skills of the Vital Relational Functions (VRFs) to support children and young people. PACE is the acronym used by psychologist Dan Hughes to describe the optimal adult stance when working with children to reduce stress, enhance connection, promote safety and engender the learning of new social and emotional skills, supporting staff to manage behaviour positively and use de-escalation strategies. PACE stands for: 

• Playfulness – sensitive and appropriate playfulness helps the child feel safe and promotes positivity 
• Acceptance – unconditionally accepting the child makes them feel safe, secure and loved
• Curiosity – genuine and non-judgemental interest in the child helps them become aware of their inner life 
• Empathy– demonstrating compassion for the child and their feelings supports the child’s sense of self-worth The VRFs represent the key techniques that we consciously apply in relationship.