School gets pupils talking by heading outdoors for a stroll
A primary school in Stafford has joined in a national mental health campaign to get Britain talking.
The campaign was launched by broadcaster ITV as statistics pointed to a huge rise in anxiety and depression among children in the last 15 years.
As part of the initiative, staff and students at Stafford Prep School have been encouraging youngsters to express their feelings by heading outdoors for a weekly stroll around the school's grounds.
The 15-minute walk and talk activity includes each pupil, aged between four and 11, and every member of staff.
They are split into different pairs each time and given a topic to discuss along the way.
Feelings charts have also been introduced into the classrooms, with a mindfulness club also being set up for younger children.
The school's initiative comes after the international Pisa test, completed by 15-year-olds in 79 countries and regions, revealed that the UK's teenagers have among the lowest levels of life satisfaction, with a high percentage claiming they were sometimes or always worried.
Cheryl Martin, headteacher at Stafford Prep School, said: "We want to help children at a young age understand that it's ok to talk and show their feelings - particularly boys, who are more prone to bottle up how they feel.
"They love the walk and talk and regularly ask about it.
"Hopefully they'll continue to talk when they get into their teenage years when it's often more difficult to do so, I want us to try and reduce the horrific statistics that are about."
