Mental health day for Send pupils 'incredible'

Clare Breare said her school currently has 60 children aged from four to 11

Mental health workshops and activities for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) have been "incredible", a head teacher said.

BBC Three Counties Radio's Headfest event was held in Kempston, Bedfordshire, at the Rivertree Free School, which opened in February.

Children got a chance to plant cress with Mr Bloom, from CBeebies, see animals at a mobile farm, make art, play sports and take part in musical movement sessions.

Head teacher Clare Breare said the event had given her pupils many "rich experiences" they would not normally be able to access.

Mr Bloom, who can be seen regularly on TV in Mr Bloom's Nursery said the gardening sessions he held were "fantastic"

Ms Breare said being able to host the event was "unthinkable" and her pupils had called it "party day" .

"To have the names and the activities that have been offered- it's inexplicable," she added.

"Our children wouldn't necessarily go out on trips to see Mr Bloom and they wouldn't necessarily spend much time at the farm with their families, so to have it in a safe place, with safe adults, and know they're going to access something that's just incredible for their wellbeing, I cannot tell you how excited I am."

Lily tried out a number of sporting activities

Children from Grange Academy also took part.

Lily played football and basketball and said the day had made her feel "happy".

Cody said he was able to meet new people

Cody, 11, said he liked visiting a new school and said it made him feel happy as he had made new friends.

Samuel, 12, made some art and said it was "good to see the animals".

Samuel loved taking part in the event

Mr Bloom, from CBeebies, held a number of gardening workshops.

He said gardening can help your mental healt,h and children tell him that it makes them feel calm, happy, positive, good and relaxed.

"Nature is absolutely fantastic, we depend on it, and it gives us everything we need," he said.

"It just makes us feel good, if we take care of nature, nature will take care of you."

Catherine Assink said the school runs a forest school to help with wellbeing

Catherine Assink, the chief executive and executive principal of Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust, which runs the school, said the "ethos of mental health and wellbeing" was in everything it does.

She said the day was amazing and added: "What an opportunity [we've had] to share with our local community our schools, and having other main stream schools coming in to share the day and to celebrate mental health and what we can do to belong as a community and to raise the profile of our Send pupils."