Derby junior school opens up dedicated space for pupils' mental health and well-being

Children as young as seven at a Derby school now have a dedicated space to support their mental health and wellbeing which could "act as a blueprint for other schools". The new nurturing space at Pear Tree Community Junior School is part of an initiative to help the mental health of pupils, which is a priority for executive head teacher Andrew Sharp.

He said: "Early intervention is absolutely key to developing resilience and supporting mental health and wellbeing in our children. We are committed to prioritising these as well as academic and extracurricular success, and that is why we have developed strong links with children's mental health charity Place2Be over the past two years.

"The success of this relationship led us to think how we could create a designated place at the heart of the school where we could provide an onsite wholly child-centred service where everyone – school, family and external support services - is aligned and can work together to meet the individual needs of our children.

"Our hope is that by introducing this level of support at primary school age, we can really help children build a strong foundation for emotional well-being throughout their lives.”

The school says that the initiative marks a major step forward for children’s emotional development, at a time when experts are urging the government to prioritise mental health in all schools for all children and added: "Research has found that better mental health can improve school attendance, enhance engagement in the classroom and help encourage an enjoyment of learning."

Hannah Donnan, school project manager and Place2Be representative, said: "t is wonderful to see our vision come to fruition. This is such a beautiful, calming, and comfortable environment, which is so important when helping children regulate or when speaking with parents and carers about the challenges their children may be facing.

"It is really encouraging to see how the Pear Tree school community is prioritising mental health in school and their collaborative approach. It’s been such a privilege to work with the staff and Barratt Homes and I think together we have created something remarkable that will be a blueprint for other schools.

"Place2Be has played a crucial role in help design an area where pupils can access a range of mental health support. This includes one-to-one sessions and group activities with trained staff.

"Every element of the space has been carefully considered, from the restful colours of the walls to the array of appropriate age toys, books and crafts available, to the adjustable lighting for those sensitive to bright lights."

Barratt Developments North Midlands division helped to transform the space so that it could be used as a peaceful environment for children. Using Barratt subcontractors and suppliers the team painted and refurbished the counselling room, fitted an outdoor mud kitchen and retrofitted Place2Be’s office.

Andy Button-Stephens, head of the Barratt Foundation, said: "We love this project. Local Barratt volunteers have transformed a space that will make a real difference to pupils at Pear Tree Junior School. It’s incredible to us that they’ve used their company volunteering days to really support the mental health of children."

Rebecca Meredith, chief executive of Transform Trust, of which the school is a part, said: "Thriving schools are ones that understand the importance of working collaboratively with their families and wider community. This is a wonderful example of how a school has developed really strong relationships with like-minded organisations to meet the needs of our children and their families. "