Beech Hall School Marks Children’s Mental Health Week with Animal Therapy Experience

Beech Hall School recently marked Children’s Mental Health Week by hosting a special visit from Inspiring Animal Therapy, bringing a menagerie of creatures into the heart of the school.

Throughout the day, pupils had the opportunity to explore the positive impact animals can have on wellbeing. They interacted with a range of animals, from cuddly guinea pigs, a friendly rabbit, and curious mice, to more exotic companions like a gecko, bearded dragon and Forest, the snow corn snake, who certainly proved more popular with some pupils than staff members. The friendly encounters provided children with a playful, calming, and hands-on way to understand how connecting with animals can support emotional regulation and mental health.

Alongside the animal sessions, a range of wellbeing resources were shared with pupils throughout the week to further support their mental health.

Ms Lorna Colter, School Counsellor, commented: 

“Spending time with animals is consistently one of the top coping strategies children share when thinking about what helps them to feel calm and regulated. This year’s Children’s Mental Health Week theme “This is My Place”, has encouraged us to reflect on belonging. It is incredibly important that children feel they have a place where they belong, not only within their home but also in the wider world. We want Beech Hall to be an inclusive and nurturing environment, where children and young people feel they belong and can say "This is My Place".  I feel very fortunate that part of my role is to support and nurture that sense of belonging. I am also continually aware of how much staff and pupils create this for one another through their everyday kindness, care and encouragement.”

James Allen, Headmaster at Beech Hall School, added: 

“The wellbeing of our pupils is at the very heart of everything that we do at Beech Hall School. Initiatives such as this week’s activities help to reinforce our commitment to creating an environment where every child feels valued, supported and included.”

Beech Hall School is a non-selective independent school for children aged 4 to 18 years. It is situated in a beautiful sixteen-acre site on the edge of the Peak District, housing two listed buildings, playing fields and a swimming pool.

The school is committed to providing a child-centred approach to education. Small classes and a focus on the individual mean that quality teaching and learning leads to success. Opportunities beyond the curriculum are just as important as those in the classroom at the school, seeking to provide a truly unique curriculum for every child. A balanced focus on academic attainment, sporting opportunities, emphasising individual strengths and celebrating traditional values are at the core of everything that is important to Beech Hall.

To find out more about Beech Hall visit: 

www.beechhallschool.org