What Are PCEs (or PACEs)? Unlocking Possibility for Every Child
- Neil @ Future Action
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) are the everyday moments that help children feel safe, supported, and connected. These might be as simple as having a trusted adult to talk to, feeling part of a team, or being welcomed into a school community.
At Future Action, we like to call them PACEs — Positive Attachment Childhood Experiences — because these protective, nurturing moments set the pace forward for children, counteracting the drag of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences).
What the research tells us
Research shows that PCEs (or PACEs):
Build resilience and coping skills (Merrick et al., 2019)
Strengthen belonging and engagement in learning (Whitaker et al., 2021)
Promote healthier long-term outcomes (Bethell et al., 2019)
Foster hope, optimism, and trust in relationships (Merrick et al., 2019)
Put simply: PACEs raise possibility.
Why PACEs matter
To understand their power, we also need to recognise the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) — challenging situations that some children face, such as abuse, neglect, or family breakdown.
Seminal research (Felitti et al., 1998) revealed that ACEs are strongly linked to poorer mental health, increased risk of chronic illness, disengagement from learning, and difficulties in relationships (Anda et al., 2006; Hughes et al., 2017; Perfect et al., 2016).
Mechanisms by which adverse childhood experiences influence health & wellbeing throughout the lifespan.
Source: Brown, D.W. et al (2009) in their Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Risk of Premature Mortality study
👉 But here’s the good news: children are not defined by adversity. While ACEs raise risk, PACEs raise possibility.
When schools intentionally create PACEs — everyday moments of safety, connection, play, and belonging — they buffer the effects of ACEs and transform life chances.
What does this look like in schools?
Every school day is an opportunity to create PACEs.
It might be through:
Inclusive Teams
Prioritise relationships in team activities — give every child a role wrapped in care so they feel connected and valued.
RISE Up Sports Sanctuaries
Provide safe spaces and adults for young people to co-regulate when heightened — reducing behaviour incidents and strengthening relationships.
PE Curriculum for All
Design PE to engage every student — from giving disengaged girls the confidence to enjoy movement, to creating safe, nurturing spaces for vulnerable children. Offering option-based curricula ensures young people access the activities they want and need, while placing student agency at the heart of a truly trauma-informed approach.
Creative Art Events
School productions, concerts, and dance shows give young people the chance to shine, express themselves, and feel part of something bigger.
RISE Up Enrichment Days, Trips & Sports Tours
Create joyful shared experiences beyond the everyday — from colour runs and enrichment days to school trips and sports tours — building memories that last a lifetime.
Enrichment Clubs
Provide opportunities for children to explore passions, build skills, and deepen their sense of belonging.
Play Wrapped in Care
Give children opportunities for playful, nurturing interactions that repair relationships, spark joy, and build trust.
👉 ACEs hold children back. PACEs move them forward.
These aren’t extras. They are the building blocks of resilience that allow children to thrive.
RISE Up Spotlight: Danby Wood Pathway School
This year, we’re proud to be working with Danby Wood Pathway School in Norwich on a bespoke Norfolk RISE Up 25/26 approach built around PACEs.
Their bespoke strategic vision includes:
PE lessons focused on boosting girls’ engagement, so all students can find safety, joy and confidence in movement
A RISE Up Sports Sanctuary — giving young people a safe, supportive space when they feel heightened, to help reduce behaviour incidents and strengthen relationships
A colour run at the end of this half term for the entire school community to finish on a high and bring everyone together
Together, these elements are creating protective, positive experiences that students will carry with them long after the school day ends.
Final thought
As educators, it’s worth asking:
👉 Are we putting as much emphasis on creating positive everyday experiences of connection and belonging as we are on managing behaviour and chasing targets?
Because while ACEs raise risk, PACEs (Positive Attachment Childhood Experiences) raise possibility. And every day, through intentional acts of care, we can help children rewrite their story.
Do You Want To Take The First Steps To Improving Your Students’ Wellbeing?
✅ [1] Join our waiting list – to explore partnerships, training, consultancy, speaking opportunities, or to get your copy of Time to RISE Up:
👉 Join the Waiting List here
📝 [2] Complete your School Wellbeing Scorecard – it takes just 3 minutes to map your current provision and identify key areas to strengthen:
👉 Complete the Scorecard here
Have a brilliant week, and thank you for all you do for your young people.
Neil Moggan and the Future Action team
💛🧠💪
🎶 Song for the day: Still Holding My Hand – Matilda the Musical
P.S. 📬 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter – stay informed with the latest wellbeing insights and practical tools for your setting:👉 Subscribe Here
📖 References
Felitti, V. J., et al. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Anda, R. F., et al. (2006). The enduring effects of abuse and related adverse experiences in childhood. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience.
Hughes, K., et al. (2017). The effect of multiple adverse childhood experiences on health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Public Health.
Perfect, M. M., et al. (2016). The relations of adverse childhood experiences to school functioning. School Psychology Quarterly.
Bethell, C. D., et al. (2019). Positive Childhood Experiences and Adult Mental and Relational Health in a Statewide Sample. JAMA Pediatrics.
Merrick, M. T., et al. (2019). Leveraging the Positive Childhood Experiences to mitigate the impact of ACEs. Child Abuse & Neglect.
Whitaker, R. C., et al. (2021). Association of positive childhood experiences with adult mental and relational health. JAMA Network Open.
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