Gateway Psychology

11/02/2026

You may have seen the recent announcement that funding for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) will remain at current levels for the next two years.

For many families and professionals this news brings mixed feelings. Continued funding offers some short-term stability, but we also know that the need for specialist therapeutic support continues to grow, and accessing help can already feel challenging.

Alongside the announcement, the government has opened a national consultation about the future of the ASGSF and how it should operate going forward. This is an important opportunity for the experiences of adopters, special guardians, professionals and providers to be heard. If you have used the fund, or supported families to access it, we would really encourage you to share your views.

https://consult.education.gov.uk/adoption-and-special-guardianship-support-fund-team/adoption-support-that-works-for-all/

At Gateway Psychology, we remain fully committed to supporting adoptive and special guardianship families. We will continue to work closely with local authorities, Regional Adoption Agencies and partner organisations to help families access the support they need and to make the best possible use of the funding available.

If you are unsure what the current arrangements mean for you, or would like to talk through options for assessment or therapeutic support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team. We are here to help.

10/02/2026

Two weeks ago, the APPG for Adoption and Permanence published Adoptee Voices, revealing significant unmet health and wellbeing needs among adopted young people.

• 51% said they sought mental health support but couldn’t find help that worked for them.

• 62% identified as neurodiverse; with over half saying their needs were not understood or met by services.

Young people described glaring gaps in trauma-informed, adoption-aware care, alongside sharp “cliff edges” in support when they reached adulthood.

As we mark Children’s Mental Health week, it’s important to recognise that adopted people need accessible, timely, specialist support that understands adoption as a lifelong experience, not something that ends at 18.

👉Read the full report: https://appgap.info/

09/02/2026

This week is Place2Be’s Children's Mental Health Week, and the theme is “This is My Place.”

At Gateway Psychology we’ve been thinking about what that really means for the children and young people we work with.

Place isn’t only about where a child lives or learns. It is also about feeling safe in relationships, feeling settled inside yourself, knowing where you fit with others, and believing that you are welcome somewhere even when things are hard.

For children who have experienced trauma, those different meanings of place can feel uncertain. Understanding this helps us look beyond behaviour and think more deeply about belonging and emotional safety.

We’ve written a new blog reflecting on the many meanings of place, and why a genuine sense of belonging is so important for children’s mental health.

If you’re a parent, carer, teacher or professional, we hope it feels thoughtful and supportive.

https://www.gateway-psychology.co.uk/this-is-my-place-the-many-meanings-of-belonging/

27/01/2026

After months of campaigning by families, Adoption UK and others across the sector, Lords vote in support of an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which if passed by MPs in the Commons, would force the government to review the level of ASGSF funding, increasing pressure on government to address gaps in provision caused partly by the cuts made to the funding last April. This comes as we await details of a broader consultation on adoption support. Read the full blog here > https://ow.ly/955W50Y4bhi

16/01/2026

Trauma-Informed Classrooms | Online CPD
Discounted rate: £100 + VAT (usually £160)

Creating a trauma-informed school is not just about understanding trauma - it’s about how that understanding shapes daily interactions, routines and responses.

Our Trauma-Informed Classrooms training supports primary school staff to translate trauma and attachment theory into practical, whole-school approaches that promote safety, predictability and emotional regulation.

The training explores:

- What trauma-informed practice looks like in real classrooms
- How adult responses can support regulation and reduce escalation
- Practical strategies for connection, boundaries and repair
- Supporting staff wellbeing while working with complex needs

🗓 2 February 2026
⏰ 9:30–16:00
💻 Delivered live online

This CPD is suitable for all professionals working in UK primary schools, including mainstream and specialist settings.

📧 For bookings or group enquiries (10+):
training@gateway-psychology.co.uk or visit https://www.gateway-psychology.co.uk/event/trauma-informed-classrooms-feb-2026-2/

Gateway Psychology provides for the psychological needs of children, young people and families in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Cheshire and nationwide.

13/01/2026

💙 Worried about long waiting times for an ASD assessment?

At Gateway Psychology, we offer private Autism (ASD) assessments for children and young people aged 5-18, with reduced waiting times and a clear, supportive process from start to finish.

Our assessments are:
✔️ Led by fully qualified, HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologists
✔️ NICE guideline compliant
✔️ Delivered by a multi-disciplinary team
✔️ Face-to-face in a child-friendly clinic environment

You’ll receive a robust diagnostic outcome, a detailed report, and tailored recommendations to help your child access the right support.

📍 Based in Stoke-on-Trent, supporting families across Staffordshire & Cheshire
📧 No GP referral needed

Get in touch to find out more or make a referral:
📩 referrals@gateway-psychology.co.uk

12/01/2026

💛 Parenting when the odds feel stacked 💛

We’ve shared this blog before, but it feels important to share it again - because there are always new parents and carers who may need to hear this message.

Written by one of our brilliant clinicians, Philippa, this piece takes a compassionate look at why parenting can feel so hard when your own early experiences didn’t provide a secure foundation.

The blog explores:
✨ How early life experiences, attachment and adversity shape parenting
✨ Why parenting can feel overwhelming even when parents are trying their very best
✨ The impact of stress, judgement and fear when families are at the edge of care
✨ How therapeutic parenting programmes can support reflection, skill-building and change

At Gateway Psychology, we believe parenting is not something you either “get right” or “fail at” - it is a skill that can be learned, practised and supported. Most importantly, this blog reminds us that a parent’s past does not have to define a child’s future.

If you’re a parent, carer, or professional supporting families, we hope this feels validating, hopeful and grounding. It may also be helpful to share with someone you support.

09/01/2026

Professionals working with children and young people: early trauma doesn’t disappear just because it can’t be remembered.

When supporting adoptive parents, foster carers and special guardians, it’s common to hear phrases like “they were adopted early, so they’ll be fine.” This assumption overlooks what we know about trauma, brain development and early lived experience.

Our Pre-Verbal Trauma Training for Professionals explores how trauma can occur before birth and in the earliest stages of life, and how these experiences continue to shape the developing brain, behaviour and relationships as children grow.

🗓 26 January 2026
⏰ 9:30am – 4:30pm (6 hours)
💻 Live online via Zoom
💷 £160 + VAT per person

This in-depth training, delivered by two highly experienced clinicians, will support professionals to:

- Develop a clear understanding of pre-verbal trauma
- Understand the impact of early trauma on brain development
- Strengthen their practice when supporting children and young people with these experiences

👥 Suitable for: social workers, clinicians, support workers and other professionals working with children and young people

🎟 Spaces are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

🔗 Book your place here: https://gateway-psychology.sumupstore.com/product/pre-verbal-trauma-training-for-professionals-jan-2026

Discounts available for bulk bookings (10+ places).

When supporting adoptive parents, foster carers, social workers, and special guardians, we often hear questions like: "How could a child experience trauma if they were removed at birth?" or "They were adopted at three - surely they’ll be fine?" These common assumptions can overlook the deep and la...

07/01/2026

Discounted CPD for teachers - £100 + VAT (usually £160)

When children’s behaviour is driven by trauma or disrupted attachment, traditional behaviour strategies often aren’t enough.

Our Trauma-Informed Classrooms training is designed to help school staff move beyond theory and develop clear, practical responses that can be used consistently across the school day.

This one-day online CPD supports professionals to:

- Understand how trauma impacts behaviour, attention and relationships
- Apply trauma-informed principles in everyday classroom situations
- Use regulation strategies that support learning rather than escalation
- Respond with empathy and consistency using PACE and logical consequences

🗓 2 February 2026 | ⏰ 9:30–16:00
💻 Live online via Zoom

Suitable for teachers, teaching assistants, SENCOs, pastoral staff and senior leaders.
No prior psychological training is required.

📩 For bookings, invoice payments or group discounts (10+):
training@gateway-psychology.co.uk or visit https://www.gateway-psychology.co.uk/event/trauma-informed-classrooms-feb-2026-2/

05/01/2026

🌱 Safe, Seen, Supported: A Therapeutic Parenting Approach for FASD (Online)

This specialist FASD training supports parents and carers to better understand their child’s needs and build effective, trauma-informed strategies that support regulation, relationships, and wellbeing.

📅 5 & 12 February 2026
⏰ 9:30–15:00
👥 Small, interactive group
💻 Online delivery

What to expect:
• Expert clinical input
• Practical tools you can apply immediately
• Group discussions and reflective exercises
• A compassionate, non-judgemental learning space

🔗 Learn more or make a referral: https://www.gateway-psychology.co.uk/event/fasd-training-feb-2026/

02/01/2026

Discounted CPD opportunity for teachers - £100 + VAT (usually £160)

Are challenging behaviours, emotional outbursts or shut-downs leaving staff feeling unsure how best to help?

Many educators already understand the theory around trauma and attachment. This Trauma-Informed Classrooms training focuses on what this looks like in practice - in real classrooms, with real children.

This one-day online CPD supports primary school staff to translate theory into practical, everyday strategies that promote regulation, safety and learning.

🗓 2 February 2026
⏰ 9:30am - 4:00pm
💻 Live online via Zoom

Delivered by experienced clinical psychologists, the training explores:

- How trauma and attachment present in day-to-day classroom behaviour
- Practical regulation strategies that can be used immediately
- Responding to behaviour using PACE and logical consequences
- Creating predictable, emotionally safe classroom environments
- Supporting staff wellbeing and reflective practice

👩🏫 Suitable for teachers, teaching assistants, SENCOs, pastoral staff and senior leaders
📌 No prior psychological training required

For bookings, invoice payments or enquiries about group discounts (10+), please contact:
📧 training@gateway-psychology.co.uk

01/01/2026

🎆 Happy New Year 🎆

From all of us at Gateway Psychology, we wish the children, young people and families and professionals we work alongside, a very Happy New Year.

As the year begins, we’re looking forward to continuing our work together and supporting children and families in the months ahead.

Wishing you a positive and settled start to the year.