Nursery World - Inclusion

How one setting in south London is supporting children who have mental health and well-being issues. By Annette Rawstrone

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Identifying an increase in the numbers of children experiencing mental health and well-being problems has urged staff at Elmwood Infants and Nursery School in Croydon, south London, to introduce targeted support and interventions.

‘Our school is in an area of social deprivation and many families are struggling with all the difficulties that this brings. Children are three times more likely to develop mental health problems if they live in poverty and we have many families in that position,’ says assistant head for inclusion Helen Walsh, who is now the school’s designated mental health lead.

‘We have lots of children who are struggling emotionally or presenting with challenging behaviour. Often when we look at the cause, we find a range of difficulties, from what the child is dealing with at home to adverse childhood trauma.’

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