A twelve-month council trial will tackle a rising need for mental health support among eight to 11-year-olds.
Published: Wednesday, 7th January 2026
The programme was agreed at a meeting of Cherwell District Council’s executive on Tuesday, 6 January. It will be funded with £55,000 from Oxfordshire County Council’s public health team and delivered by Cherwell’s wellbeing team at 15 local schools.
The news follows fresh insights showing that 41 per cent of primary-aged children in the district experience mental health or wellbeing challenges. The research, commissioned by the council from Oxfordshire Mind, found that year 4 and 5 pupils were most likely to have a mental health need, with stress cited as the most frequent challenge.
Councillor Rob Pattenden, Portfolio Holder for Healthy Communities, said: “It is concerning to see that there is a rise in the number of pupils needing mental health support, but at Cherwell we’re taking a targeted, evidence-based approach to addressing it. Whether they’re thriving or struggling, we want to make sure that primary-aged pupils have access to the right support, embedded in their school’s offer.
“This new programme will help children identify and express their feelings, build resilience, and encourage them to seek help when they need it. By improving young people’s emotional literacy and support networks, we want to open the door to them enjoying school more and remove those obstacles to academic attainment.”
Cherwell worked with Oxfordshire Mind to commission the research following a motion to the council, adopted in July 2024, which called for increased investment in the council’s existing mental health initiatives.
The new pilot scheme will be centred on tailored emotional health and wellbeing support, combining physical activities with proven psychological strategies.
It will include whole-class emotional literacy sessions and one-to-one support for children who need extra help.
The programme will also provide targeted training for school staff on supporting pupils with mental health needs, with a focus on neurodiversity, emotional regulation, and managing stress and anxiety.
The programmes will start in April.