The Bramble Brae Feelings Inspectors

In February 2020, Bramble Brae Primary School partnered with Children’s Parliament to take a rights-based approach to creating the school’s new mental health strategy. Building on key messages from the Bramble Brae Imagineers investigation into Mental Health, the project’s aims were to support children and adults in the school community to reflect on mental health, behaviour and relationships through a positive lens.

The ambition was for the school to become an environment with a focus on social and emotional wellbeing where children and adults are more able to recognise, understand and manage feelings. Adults in the school can then ensure Bramble Brae is a place where every child feels secure and has a sense of belonging.

Children from P5, 6 and 7 became the Bramble Brae Feelings Inspectors. Their role included sharing their ideas and experiences, supporting younger children to participate and co-delivering CPD training to their teachers and PSAs.

When coronavirus hit, and school stopped, the Feelings Inspectors continued to work with Children’s Parliament remotely and digitally, so they could have their say about life in lockdown, what the ‘new normal’ would be like and the recovery phase. Their voices directly influenced the school’s decisions about how to support children on their transition back into the classroom and informed Children’s Parliament’s Back to School resources.

Now back at school, the Bramble Brae Feelings Inspectors are continuing where they left off and will support other children in their school to have their say. Their key messages and worksheets will be used to shape Bramble Brae’s relationships and anti-bullying policy, forming a base to support good mental health for all at their school.

The children’s feelings and comments have become central to our planning, as we acknowledge that their views should be an intrinsic part of our decision making. Our priorities have been guided by theirs.
Bramble Brae teaching staff member