Today, Friday 6th February 2026, selected children from Year 6 took part in the LSSP Inside Out Festival, marking the launch of Children’s Mental Health Week 2026.

The festival brought together pupils from 27 other schools across the city, creating a vibrant and supportive atmosphere. It was a wonderful opportunity for our children to mix with peers beyond our own school community, build confidence and support their transition journey towards Key Stage 3.

The aim of the day was to explore mental health through movement. Throughout the festival, the children participated in a range of engaging activities and team games, each designed to explore different emotions and demonstrate how physical activity can positively support mental wellbeing. The experience clearly highlighted how important it is to nurture mental health from a young age, helping children to recognise their feelings, develop resilience and understand the benefits of teamwork, connection and belonging.

This year’s Children’s Mental Health Week theme, led by Place2Be, focusses on the importance of belonging under the message “This is My Place”. We know that feeling part of our friendships, school and wider community plays a vital role in mental health and wellbeing. A strong sense of belonging empowers children to grow in confidence, contribute positively and know that they are valued.

The Inside Out Festival reflected this theme beautifully. By bringing together schools from across the city in an inclusive and nurturing environment, the event enabled children to connect with others, feel part of something bigger and experience the joy of shared activity.

It was lovely to welcome the children back to school at the end of the day with smiling faces and enthusiastic comments such as, “That was such a good day!”, “It was brilliant!” and “It was so much fun!"

We are extremely grateful to LSSP for organising such a fantastic event, and to Mrs L McCormick for coordinating all arrangements and accompanying the children throughout the day. It was a joyful and meaningful start to our focus on children’s mental health and wellbeing.