Establishing your strategy: How to make use of shared resources whilst tailoring to the needs of your school

Informed by our professional experience and empirical research in the UK, we highlight principles and approaches which could be integrated into the development of strategies of primary schools seeking to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. We consider the challenges and opportunities of implementing research-informed approaches in schools, and the balance between maintaining individuality and context specific support in each school, whilst collaborating with other schools to share resources, training opportunities and expertise. Our research findings revealed the need for bespoke and context-specific strategies, rather than using externally produced frameworks or curricula. However, the staff interviews also showed the value of groups of schools working together to support and equip one another in shaping their vision and ethos. Approaches which were implemented holistically across the school were more effective and valuable, and communication across the whole staff body further supported the implementation and effectiveness within the whole school community.