PUPILS and staff at a specialist therapeutic school in Newton Abbot celebrated World Mental Health Day in style last week, turning up in yellow clothing to help raise awareness of positive mental health and wellbeing.

Students at the award-winning School for Inspiring Talents took part in Young Mind’s #HelloYellow campaign, joining in with classroom activities and wearing yellow, to mark the day held each year on October 10.

The specialist school supports children aged between 5-16 in South Devon who have experienced a range of difficulties in their early years, which means they are often unable to thrive in mainstream schools.

The school’s innovative therapeutic approach to education supports the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of students to help overcome their barriers to learning.

Megan Hornsby, Mental Health Practitioner at the school, said: ‘As a therapeutic school we believe that taking care of mental and emotional wellbeing is critical to supporting students to be the best they can be.

‘It has also been vital to support the wellbeing of our staff during such a difficult year of lockdown.

‘We have all enjoyed getting behind the #HelloYellow campaign to raise awareness of the importance of supporting people with their mental health.’

Pete Jenkins, Headteacher at School for Inspiring Talents, added: ‘I am very proud of our school and its multi-disciplinary team of staff who provide such a positive and nurturing school environment to support our students’ mental health, helping them to feel safe and secure during what has been a very challenging year.

‘As a school that is passionate about improving young people’s emotional wellbeing, it is very fitting for us to celebrate World Mental Health Day together.’