At Bere Clinic School, every pupil is navigating a difficult journey. As part of Bere Clinic, an inpatient eating disorder service within Elysium Healthcare, young people are not just working on their recovery; many are also trying to reconnect with education after long periods away from school.
This year’s Children’s Mental Health Week theme, “This Is My Place”, resonates deeply with the ethos of Bere Clinic School.
Head Teacher Sarah Taylor explained:
Before Children’s Mental Health Week begins, the school will mark Safer Internet Day with a special session centred on this year’s theme of artificial intelligence. The school will explore a range of topics, including how to tell if an image is real or artificially generated, the risks associated with deepfakes, including AI tools that can undress a person, and how online friendships, group chats and social media links can put young people at risk.
By helping pupils recognise unsafe digital situations and equipping them with practical strategies, the team sets the tone for the week ahead.
The heart of Children’s Mental Health Week will focus on helping pupils feel that the school, the ward, and their community are places where they belong. For some pupils, even entering a classroom is extraordinarily difficult.
Marking Children’s Mental Health Week will begin with a visit from Zoo Lab for a hands-on animal experience, and the team want to make this as accessible for everyone as possible. One young person finds the school environment very uncomfortable. Instead of expecting them to adjust immediately, the team adjusts for them. Zoo Lab will not only hold a session in the classroom, but also in the lounge, where this pupil feels safe.
During the session, pupils will meet and handle animals, which is a grounding, sensory, calming experience that encourages curiosity and connection. For those struggling with attendance, this is often a turning point. Positive shared experiences build trust, and trust builds belonging.
Later in the week, the school transforms into a serene wellbeing space with a spa-like experience. There will be sofas and blankets, soft music, a reading corner and a range of soothing activities including Mandala colouring, crochet and knitting, mindful reading, facemasks and more. Staff volunteer their time, and hospital colleagues are invited too, creating a sense of community warmth and shared care.
Every activity during Children’s Mental Health Week reflects the same core message:
This is your place, and here, you belong. For neurodivergent pupils, for those rebuilding their relationship with learning, and for those healing in hospital, that message is essential. Bere Clinic is not just a place of learning, but a community of understanding, safety and hope.
