WINE and PACE Empathy Cards – Trauma-Informed Communication Tool

These WINE and PACE Empathy Cards are designed to support trauma-informed practice by helping adults reflect on their language, responses, and interactions with children and young people. The cards provide clear, practical prompts to encourage empathy, curiosity, and connection rather than judgement or punishment.

Ideal for use in schools, SEND settings, pastoral support, safeguarding, and staff training.

What Are WINE and PACE?

WINE Responses (What to Avoid):

Why

Ignoring

No

Escalation

These responses can unintentionally increase stress and dysregulation in children who have experienced trauma.

PACE Approach (What to Use):

Playfulness

Acceptance

Curiosity

Empathy

PACE supports emotional safety, trust, and regulation.

Includes

WINE response prompt cards

PACE response prompt cards

Clear, simple language

Visual reminders for adults

Easy-to-use card format

How to Use

Staff reflection and CPD discussions

Behaviour and pastoral support meetings

Classroom reminders

Safeguarding and trauma-informed training

SEND and SEMH support

One-to-one interventions

Learning & Development Focus

Building empathy

Trauma-informed communication

Understanding behaviour as communication

Supporting emotional regulation

Developing positive adult-child relationships

Ideal For

Teachers and teaching assistants

Pastoral and safeguarding teams

SEND, SEMH, and behaviour support

School leaders

Trauma-informed practice training

Why Use These Cards?

Encourages calm, supportive responses

Helps adults pause and reflect

Promotes consistency across staff teams

Supports emotionally safe environments

Simply print, laminate, and use as a practical reminder to respond with empathy and curiosity.