Why Every School Professional Should Read Attachment in the Classroom
Heather Geddes (Worth Publishing)
As a SENDCo and Nurture Base Lead deeply passionate about attachment theory and relational practice, I found Heather Geddes’ Attachment in the Classroom to be both a timely reminder and a practical resource for anyone working with children in schools. This book clearly bridges the often-talked-about theory of attachment and the lived realities of teaching and learning, making it essential reading for inclusive educators committed to relationally responsive practice.
What This Book Does Well
At its heart, Attachment in the Classroom does something profoundly important: it situates attachment theory squarely in the day-to-day experience of school life. Rather than treating attachment as an abstract psychological concept, Geddes explores how early relational experiences influence children’s behaviour, emotional regulation and capacity to engage with learning.
A key strength of the book lies in:
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Teacher-centred, classroom-relevant examples that illustrate how attachment patterns can show up in learning behaviours. A framework that helps educators recognise underlying relational needs that may be driving behaviour, rather than simply responding to surface-level challenges.
- Practical “what to try next” interventions and reflections at the end of chapters, which move readers from reaction to reflection — a shift that is at the core of trauma-informed, attachment-aware practice.
For professionals like me, who prioritise creating secure bases within school environments, this book offers language and lenses to help educators see beyond behaviours and into the relationship needs that underpin them.
Why It Matters for Brain Capacity & School Well-Being
Attachment science tells us that secure relationships are foundational to a child’s developing brain architecture — including executive functions like attention, emotional regulation and resilience. Geddes reinforces this perspective throughout, making a compelling case that learning cannot be disentangled from connection and well-being.
Schools that understand this are better placed to build
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Emotional regulation skills, through trusting adult–child relationships
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Cognitive engagement, because children who feel safe are neurologically primed to explore and learn
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Resilience and capacity for challenge, when relational attunement, rather than control, guides classroom practice
As someone who regularly leads nurture-informed strategies, I found the book’s grounding in real classroom settings invaluable. It legitimises an approach that sees behaviour through an attachment lens — which, in my experience, is often the missing piece in both whole-school policy and SEND support plans.
For Leaders, Teachers, & SEND Practitioners
This isn’t a text that educators need to be psychologists to understand — it’s written with clarity and purpose for the school context. Whether you’re a classroom teacher, pastoral lead or senior leader shaping school culture, Attachment in the Classroom supports you to:
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Think relationally about behaviour
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Respond with reflective practice instead of reactive discipline
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Embed secure-base thinking across school systems
Final Thoughts
Attachment thinking is not a trend — it’s a foundational lens for equitable education. Attachment in the Classroom helps professionals translate that lens into everyday practice, enhancing both wellbeing and performance. For schools serious about meeting children where they are — especially those with attachment needs — this book is a cornerstone resource.
Highly recommended for anyone committed to building connections that build brains.