A PRIMARY school is encouraging children to get talking about their mental health.

Burnham Primary School, in Dunkirk Road, held its first wellbeing day to educate youngsters about the importance of talking about and tackling difficulties in life.

The scheme is being led by Jeanette Evans, child and family support worker at the school.

Pupils will also be taught about mental health throughout the school’s curriculum.

Mrs Evans said: “We know there have been tragedies in our area, especially with children a lot older than ours.

“We had one recently where children from the school were related to that person.

“We cannot change what happened but as a school we want to ask what can we do to build resilience in our children so that hopefully when they come into us, we want to have a programme that runs from reception all the way to Year Six.

“We want them to leave here healthy, happy, confident physically and mentally and know that life isn’t peachy, but how to pick themselves up when things happen.”

During the wellbeing day pupils took part in assemblies and talked about feeling sad.

Alex Keane, assistant headteacher at the school told the children that feeling sad, angry or even happy was a normal part of life.

He said: “We all feel sad, it is a huge part of your life, you will spend many days being a bit sad, and that’s OK.

“Sometimes it’s OK to get a bit wound up, you have to get a bit wound up.

“It’s OK to be happy, even if you think someone thinks you’re supposed to be sad, it’s OK to be happy.”

Kelly Stock, headteacher of Burnham Primary School, has fully supported the programme and she hopes it will help set up the children for later life.

She said: “Life can be wonderful, but it can also be very hard.

“I want our children to learn how to cope when life changes and know who to go to for help.

“For some children this may be as simple as when friendship groups change whereas for others they may have to deal with more traumatic experiences.”

Mrs Evans added “I think we are very lucky the headteacher thinks my role is an important role.

“Miss Stock feels this role is not a luxury, but a necessity for the school.

“If we do not keep the children safe then the teachers cannot teach them, so it is nice we have someone who recognises the importance of safeguarding.”