A PRIMARY school has teamed up with Herefordshire Mind to improve the mental wellbeing of students.

Ewyas Harold Primary School is collaborating with the mental health organisation to support children in their mental health and wellbeing.

The team will be promoting good emotional health during Wellbeing Week, which takes place from October 22.

David Harding, support and development manager at Herefordshire Mind, said: "I am delighted to be working with Ewyas Harold Primary School. We will be supporting the school community to give greater priority to children's happiness and mental health, which also helps to enhance their wider academic learning, their relationships and their resilience."

Laura Wallace, head of Ewyas Harold Primary School, said: "We believe the focus on children and young people's wellbeing and mental health is long overdue.

"We strongly believe that a teaching profession that feels sufficiently trained to speak about mental health and approaches issues confidently, would have a huge impact and lead to an open and inclusive culture that would benefit pupils, teachers and parents, thus reducing the stigma about discussing mental health."

Organisers say that the earlier that mental health issues are address for a child, the easier they are to help and the more effective the support will be.

Laura Wallace added: "Evidence shows that across the UK, mental health issues in children are increasing, while child wellbeing is deteriorating.

"With such a huge amount of time spent in the classroom, schools provide an ideal environment for promoting good emotional wellbeing and identifying early behaviour changes and signs of mental distress."

For more information about Wellbeing Week, email admin@ewyas-harold.hereford.sch.uk