Prime Highlights:
- A new £55,000 pilot programme will provide extra mental health support to pupils in 15 schools across the Cherwell district.
- The programme will help children understand their feelings, build resilience, and access one-to-one and class-wide emotional wellbeing support.
Key Facts:
- Research shows 41% of parents in Cherwell reported mental health or well-being difficulties among primary-aged children.
- The pilot will focus on 8- to 11-year-olds, particularly Years 4 and 5, who were most affected by stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
Background:
Schoolchildren across the Cherwell district are set to benefit from increased mental health support, thanks to a new 12-month pilot programme funded with £55,000 from Oxfordshire County Council.
The funding will support teacher training and provide tailored emotional health and well-being services for pupils in 15 local schools. The initiative comes after research by Oxfordshire Mind revealed that 41% of parents and carers reported mental health or wellbeing difficulties in primary-aged children.
The pilot, starting in April, will focus on children aged eight to 11, particularly those in Years 4 and 5, who were most likely to be struggling according to the study. Stress and anxiety were identified as the most common concerns, with additional issues including anger, low self-esteem, and sleep difficulties. Many of these pupils began school during the Covid-19 pandemic, and staff noted that mental health challenges have increased since then.
The study showed that schools need a mix of support, including both class-wide wellbeing workshops and individual help for pupils. Staff want families to be better informed and teachers to be better trained to support pupils’ emotions and needs.
Councillor Rob Pattenden, in charge of Healthy Communities at Cherwell District Council, said that the increase in children needing mental health support is worrying. He added that the new programme will give pupils tools to understand and share their feelings, grow their confidence, and know when to ask for help. The council aims to help children feel better at school and make learning easier.
