ACEs are stressful, abusive or traumatic experiences that children can be exposed to whilst growing up. This can include experiences that directly harm a child such as abuse or neglect, and a range of household or environmental dysfunctions such as witnessing domestic abuse, growing up with substance misuse, mental illness, lack of safe housing, bullying or poverty. Children or young people who experience trauma are often stuck in, or can go back to, behaviours that were present at the age they experienced the traumatic event(s).

ACEs in childhood can have lifelong impacts on a person’s mental and physical health including the development of chronic diseases (such as heart disease and cancers) and social and emotional problems.

ACEs are difficult experiences that impact on children and can therefore be very difficult for children to manage as they get older too.

Children with ACEs are:

• 4 times more likely to be a high-risk drinker
• 6 times more likely to smoke e-cigarettes or tobacco
• 6 times more likely to have sex under the age of 16
• 11 times more likely to have smoked cannabis
• 14 times more likely to have been a victim of violence

Developing appropriate coping strategies and building resilience (the ability to bounce back and recover from difficulties and setbacks) has been shown to help counteract some of the negative consequences of ACEs that can affect young people as they develop into adults.

If in any doubt about sharing information, staff should speak to the setting DSL. Fears about sharing information must not be allowed to stand in the way of the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.