A place to belong and a reason to celebrate at Old Hall!

Pupils and staff at Old Hall Primary School, part of The Keep Learning Trust, have plenty to celebrate after winning the Belong Award at myHappymind's 10th anniversary celebrations, recognising the school's fantastic work to make every child feel valued, included and proud to be part of its community.

The award was announced at the first ever myHappymind Live event, where Old Hall was praised for its outstanding commitment to inclusion. From helping children feel safe and supported to giving them the confidence to aim high and embrace new challenges, the award celebrates the welcoming school culture that staff and pupils work hard to create every day.

Nicola Carlile, Headteacher at Old Hall Primary School, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have won the Belong Award! It is such a lovely recognition of what makes Old Hall so special and something our whole school community can be incredibly proud of.

"We want every child to know that they matter and that they have an important place in our school. Old Hall is somewhere children can aim high, have a go at something new and make mistakes, knowing there will always be someone there to cheer them on. That sense of belonging is so important to us, so having it recognised with this award really does mean the world."

The latest celebration follows the school's achievement of myHappymind Silver accreditation, recognising its commitment to making mental health and wellbeing a priority. Through the programme, children learn how to understand their emotions, build positive relationships and develop resilience, with wellbeing woven into everyday school life and pupils encouraged to look out for one another.

And Old Hall isn't stopping there! The school has now set its sights on achieving myHappymind Gold accreditation, while also building on its approach to inclusion through further staff training focused on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The aim is to develop more specialist knowledge across the team so that every child continues to get the support they need.

David Stephens, CEO of The Keep Learning Trust, added: "What a wonderful achievement for everyone at Old Hall! This award is a fantastic reflection of the care and dedication that goes into making the school such a welcoming place for its children.

"Every child should come to school feeling that they belong and knowing that they have people around them who believe in them. This recognition reflects the values and culture that are at the heart of schools across The Keep Learning Trust, and we couldn't be prouder of Old Hall for receiving this accolade. A huge congratulations to the whole team!"