Anagh Coar and Manor Park Primary Schools marked Children’s Mental Health Week by asking pupils to consider how they have grown this school year.

The theme decided by mental health charity Place2Be for this year’s week was ’Growing Together’.

The week started with the children watching Place2Be’s virtual assembly in their classes, which included examples of how some famous faces have grown and developed themselves personally over time and what they use to overcome any obstacles they have faced.

This gave the children the opportunity to reflect on and discuss their own experiences as part of their learning over the week.

Headteacher Rob Coole said: ’It has been lovely to see how the children at both schools have really thought about the positive changes they have made and would like to make in the future.

’One of the children’s favourite activities during the week has been creating "support balloons" to show who supports them to grow. Along with other creative items these will be used for a display to help the children remember the week.’

It was also Safer Internet Day during the week and the school year 5 and 6 pupils (aged nine to 11) from both schools had a visit from Police Constable Louise Kennaugh to discuss age-appropriate use of social media, gaming and TV viewing.

Constable Kennaugh said: ’As a result of being invited into schools to talk to the pupils, we are able to learn and share information and also gain valuable insight from the young people themselves in order to support, educate and keep them safe on line, in their school and in the community.

’It is only from talking and listening to our young people that we can all learn and share experiences in order to support and guide them. The importance of parents, schools and other agencies working together to support our young people is highly important in maintaining our safe and caring community.

’Please talk to your children about what they view on line or on other media forums and make good choices around the television, film, games and social media that you enable them to be exposed to so they can learn to see the good in social media and its use as opposed to using it to cause harm to themselves or others.’

While at the school she also met the younger pupils as part of their ’People Who Help Us’ topic.

The schools said this was an important part of what the community policing team does as it helped to develop a positive relationship with the police from an early age.

The week also saw the continuation of the work Isle Listen have been doing at Manor Park and the first of their sessions with Anagh Coar, including a staff meeting for both school teams to learn about all the services that Isle Listen provide.

Carlie Maddrell from Isle Listen said: ’Isle Listen are an early intervention and prevention mental health charitable initiative on the Isle of Man.

’Part of my role as primary school wellbeing facilitator is to visit primary schools around the island and deliver a programme of sessions throughout the school year that focus on an element of mental health with [school] years 3-6 [aged seven to 11].

’I have been working with Manor Park and Anagh Coar primary schools since the start of the year and have really enjoyed getting to know the students.

’From our sessions so far, I have seen an increase in confidence from the students talking about their mental health and what it means for them as individuals.

’The work we do with the young people really helps compliment the great work the staff do throughout the year to support their students and themselves.’