The Bracknell Forest TaMHS Project was part of a government-funded initiative to identify and support children and young people aged 5 to 13 years who may be at risk of, and/or experiencing, mental health difficulties. In Bracknell Forest, 10 primary and 2 secondary schools piloted a range of intervention strategies to support individuals and groups of children identified through a systematic assessment process.

Robin Banerjee worked with the TaMHS team – particularly staff in the Educational Psychology Service and Behaviour Support Service – to provide feedback and guidance on assessments of pupils’ socio-emotional functioning and mental health characteristics. The project included training sessions for relevant staff and school teachers, providing information regarding the research background and methods of the research. In addition, data on peer relations, self-perceptions, and aspects of mental health were collected from pupils and teachers in the participating classes at agreed time points during the project. The dialogue with school staff regarding the data, coupled with a number of other training opportunities provided to staff in other parts of the TaMHS project, proved to be a fruitful way of translating assessment data into on-the-ground intervention work in schools.