Emotional health plays a central role in children’s mental, psychological and cognitive development, as well as their general health. Good emotional and mental health and wellbeing is important in helping to:

• strengthen children’s capacity for relationships
• improve educational attainment
• promote social inclusion
• expand opportunities
• improve general health and wellbeing

Promoting positive mental health is key to healthy child development. It helps children to build positive social, emotional, behaviour, thinking and communication skills. It also lays the foundation for better mental health and wellbeing later in life.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Barnsley has seen a significant increase in demand for emotional health and wellbeing services. Schools are well-placed for the early identification of needs and preventative work within the curriculum. The resources below can support you as a school to embed and promote positive emotional wellbeing and upskill pupils and staff on how to understand and manage the emotions they experience.

Good emotional health and wellbeing helps children to develop the resilience to cope with whatever life throws at them. It allows them to grow into well-rounded, healthy adults.

Things that can help keep children and young people mentally well include:

• being in good physical health, eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise
• having time and freedom to play, indoors and outdoors
• being part of a family that gets along well most of the time
• going to a school that looks after the wellbeing of all its students
• taking part in local activities