Mental health day for Send pupils 'incredible'

Mental health workshops and activities for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) have been "incredible", a head teacher said.

BBC Three Counties Radio's Headfest event was held in Kempston, Bedfordshire, at the Rivertree Free School, which opened in February.

Children got a chance to plant cress with Mr Bloom, from CBeebies, see animals at a mobile farm, make art, play sports and take part in musical movement sessions.

Head teacher Clare Breare said the event had given her pupils many "rich experiences" they would not normally be able to access.

Ms Breare said being able to host the event was "unthinkable" and her pupils had called it "party day" .

"To have the names and the activities that have been offered- it's inexplicable," she added.

"Our children wouldn't necessarily go out on trips to see Mr Bloom and they wouldn't necessarily spend much time at the farm with their families, so to have it in a safe place, with safe adults, and know they're going to access something that's just incredible for their wellbeing, I cannot tell you how excited I am."

Children from Grange Academy also took part.

Lily played football and basketball and said the day had made her feel "happy".

Cody, 11, said he liked visiting a new school and said it made him feel happy as he had made new friends.

Samuel, 12, made some art and said it was "good to see the animals".

Mr Bloom, from CBeebies, held a number of gardening workshops.

He said gardening can help your mental healt,h and children tell him that it makes them feel calm, happy, positive, good and relaxed.

"Nature is absolutely fantastic, we depend on it, and it gives us everything we need," he said.

"It just makes us feel good, if we take care of nature, nature will take care of you."

Catherine Assink, the chief executive and executive principal of Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust, which runs the school, said the "ethos of mental health and wellbeing" was in everything it does.

She said the day was amazing and added: "What an opportunity [we've had] to share with our local community our schools, and having other main stream schools coming in to share the day and to celebrate mental health and what we can do to belong as a community and to raise the profile of our Send pupils."

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