Introduction to BUSS® model webinar 2025

The BUSS® model was developed by Sarah Lloyd to be helpful when children have experienced developmental trauma. It’s based on the understanding that for children to thrive they need consistent, attuned caregiving and it’s through these relationships that babies and young children develop good bodily and emotional regulation. Having a good sense of their body is crucial for children to manage games, friendships and school, all of which are such an important part of childhood.

BUSS® is concerned with what are called foundation sensorimotor systems, the systems that grow through lots of nurture, touch and movement in their early months and years. These systems give us a sense of ourselves on a bodily level – so things like having good balance and co-ordination as well as understanding information from inside our bodies (e.g. when we feel hungry or cold, and managing the sounds and feel of the outside world without being overwhelmed by them). Within nurturing relationships, babies progress through critical patterns of movement that allow the brain and central nervous system to develop so that we can manage to do all of this without using much conscious attention. Where children have had a difficult start in life, these processes have been disrupted.
However, by bringing together sensory integration theory and attachment theory alongside an understanding of the impact of trauma on the developing brain, it’s possible to use games and activities, working with parents / carers and their children to rebuild these systems and help children to thrive.

The three most important tenets of the BUSS® model are movement, playfulness and relationships, and we’re keen to make sure this is reflected in our day together. As well as introducing you to BUSS®, we’d like you to have the chance to discuss what we’re talking about, hear from families and practitioners who are using the model and also have the chance to try out some of the games and activities that we might use as part of our work with families. We’ll use breakout rooms in Zoom to make sure that there are lots of opportunities to think and do, as well as hopefully giving you lots of information and ideas!

Over the day we’ll think about BUSS® as an intervention with children, young people and their families as well as how BUSS® can be applied in other settings, e.g. Early Years and education.