A Twickenham school is leading the way in supporting pupils' mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic, using digital technology.

Newland House School was one of the first schools in the country to sign up to Discovery Education Health and Relationships – a new digital programme which helps pupils to learn about mental health and cope with change.

Designed to help teachers deliver the new relationships and health education (RHE) curriculum, the programme also teaches children about the importance of healthy and happy friendships and different types of families.

Child-led videos feature children talking about key topics while role play activities help pupils to explore issues that affect their lives.

Teacher Andrea Taylor says it's having a positive impact on pupil wellbeing during the pandemic.

"Returning to school after the first lockdown early last autumn, we used the Health and Relationships programme to supplement our Recovery Curriculum.

"This was useful not only for children but for teachers as well, providing resources to help us explore and address any concerns or anxieties about the return to school," said Andrea who is head of PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education) at Newland House.

The school is also using the programme's digital content to support pupils during the current lockdown.

"In periods of home learning the platform has also proved ideal," Andrea said. "Integrating PSHE lessons into the remote timetable is very simple and the resources work equally well as both live online lessons and static resources, which the children can easily access from home."

Looking ahead, Health and Relationships will continue to be at the centre of Newland House School's wellbeing programme.

"Supporting children's mental health is vitally important to the school. The Health and Relationships programme has provided the right tools to facilitate this and has also encouraged the children to come up with their own ideas for supporting each other."

Discovery Education is providing schools with no-cost access to Health and Relationships until October 31.

Schools are encouraged to register here.