Schools and professionals

Supporting mental health in schools

colourful illustration of hands cupping two children on a palm

Schools play a vital role in the emotional wellbeing of children, and Kids Inspire is here to help.

Around 40% of all referrals to our service come directly from schools. This strong connection means we deeply understand the challenges schools face when supporting pupils’ mental health. As a specialist children’s mental health charity working across Essex and parts of Suffolk, we offer flexible, trauma-informed services tailored to the needs of individual schools.

Mental health support in schools

At Kids Inspire, we work at the intersection of schools and mental health, ensuring children who've experienced trauma or adversity get timely, specialist support to help them thrive in education and beyond.

Whether you're seeking therapeutic support for pupils or professional development for staff, we’ll work with your school to create a flexible, evidence-based package that fits your school’s goals, schedule, and budget.

young girl sat on a swing talking to an adult — Creative and talking therapy
Delivered one-to-one or in group settings, our creative and talking therapies help children process emotions, develop resilience, and build healthy coping strategies.

A young female chatting and looking at a phone withto two young males — Counselling
Our child-centred, trauma-informed counselling provides a safe, supportive space for children to explore their feelings, overcome challenges, and re-engage with learning.

colourful illustration of a child's head with cogs whirring around it — Parent/carer group work
We believe in working with the whole family. That’s why, when a school funds therapeutic support for a pupil, we offer free parent/carer group sessions alongside. These sessions help families feel supported and empowered, reinforcing the child’s progress and building change that lasts.

Group of adults sat around a coffee table talking — Expert training for staff
As well as direct work with pupils, we offer professional training to help a team feel more confident in responding to mental health needs. Our training includes:
Trauma-informed approaches
Emotional regulation strategies
Supporting neurodiverse learners
Creating safe, nurturing environments in school

Male adult sat talking to a young person while playing connect 4 — Mentoring
In some cases, we can also offer mentoring support, providing a consistent, trusted adult relationship to help pupils build confidence, self-esteem, and resilience over time.
This one-to-one support complements therapy.

young hands holding storytelling dice — Get in touch
Whether it’s a single training session or a year-long programme, we’ll help you put mental health at the heart of your school community.
Identify a need for a pupil, group, or staff
Get in touch — we’ll talk through options bespoke for your school
Support begins — tailored, high-quality delivery in your school

Whether it’s individual pupil support session or a year-long programme, we’ll help you put mental health at the heart of your school community.

“Having Kids Inspire therapists in our school has made a huge difference to our pupils’ confidence and emotional wellbeing.”
— SENCo, Essex Primary School

A children’s mental health charity you can trust

Since 2007, we’ve supported thousands of children and families through school-based mental health projects that put emotional wellbeing at the centre of education. Whether embedded in a school consortium or working with individual schools, we collaborate to create lasting impact for pupils, their families, and the wider school community.

Proudly rooted in Essex and parts of Suffolk, our approach combines compassion, clinical expertise, and a deep understanding of the local challenges schools face.