Roots to grow and wings to fly is the motto at Perry Wood Primary, in St Albans Close, Worcester. The Worcester News' Grace Walton was impressed with their approach to mental health and the emotional development of pupils.

AT Perry Wood Primary, the Thrive programme is key in helping children understand their emotions.

Lisa Kelly, 40, a teacher’s assistant who is training to be a Thrive Practitioner, said: “Thrive is brilliant. It allows us to work with children in a small group or a one-to-one basis.

"We are here to support children who have gaps in their emotional or social wellbeing. A lot of it is sensory play and hands on activities. Such as making mud pies, play dough or anything crafty.

"It is letting the children talk to you and explore their feelings by associating a wiggle in their tummy as anxiety, and then act on that to help them.”

Maisie, a 21-week-old 'Sproogle' dog, is the school’s mascot and began visiting there in September to interact with the children to teach them how to care for all living beings.

The school is fortunate to have two forestry areas for the children to explore, a pond area, large playing field and two playgrounds. Staff take pride in their outdoor learning to encourage pupils to interact with nature.

The assistant headteacher, Fay Munslow, 33, took me outside to explore the forest with the reception class, who were booted up in their wellies and coats.

Mrs Munslow said: “The children benefit from getting plenty of exercise whilst learning, and providing an opportunity to learn in a different way. It is an enriching curriculum for the children. They explore the trees in the forest, gather leaves and describe what they see.”

Pupil Lily May Albury, aged 5, said: “We have learned to find creatures, like slugs and worms, to feed the hedgehogs for breakfast. We love the outdoors because we like to get muddy.”

One child approached me with a huge smile and tried to place a slug in my hand, which he had found in the forest, to show me what he was learning.

Another element of the school is Pupil Parliament where the children take on roles and promote a positive attitude.

Talking about one of her roles as Prime Minister of Pupil Parliament, Emily Kirkland, aged 10, said:“We have set up a friendship zone in the playground where we put on activities for anyone who is on their own to join in and make friends.”

Email me at grace.walton@newsquest.co.uk if you would like your school to be featured for In the Classroom.