St Mary’s CE First School and Nursery, West Moors, Dorset

St Mary’s CE First School and Nursery in West Moors, Dorset, is a lively, welcoming and friendly school, proud of the strong family ethos it fosters within its community.

Along with five other Dorset schools, St Mary’s is a part of The Heath Trust, who work collaboratively as a partnership to maximise outcomes for children and the whole school community. Through shared approaches, joint training events, policy development and the embedding of curriculum approaches, the schools align best practice and build a supportive network to enhance provision and ensure wellbeing is a central part of their approach.

‘At St Mary’s CE First School & Nursery, our core purpose is to provide an inclusive and nurturing environment that inspires a love of learning and prepares our children to be confident, resilient and compassionate citizens of the world. We believe every child has the potential to achieve great things, and we strive to ignite that potential through a dynamic and engaging curriculum that meets the diverse needs and interests of our learners.’

The school’s vision is to empower the children to ‘Believe in Better…Be more Awesome.’ Their focus is on providing a rich curriculum based on a model of growth mindset and finding new ways to provide an enriching educational experience for all.

Recognising the increasing need to support children with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) challenges, St Mary’s began implementing the Hamish & Milo programme in September 2024. Initially, the programme supported a small number of children on a one-to-one basis. By January 2025, the remaining schools in the Trust had also joined the Hamish & Milo Community and began embedding the programmes within their own settings.

To ensure a consistent Trust-wide approach, comprehensive training was delivered to all staff, fostering a shared understanding and value for the Hamish & Milo principles. Regular supervision was established for ELSAs and TAs running the programmes, creating a strong support network that allowed for idea-sharing, joint problem-solving, and ongoing professional development.

“Training for everyone in the Trust was really helpful because it helped everyone to understand the principles and approach and to value it. Everyone is now aware of the benefits for the children. We love how creative it is and how important it is for children to be able to express their feelings and explore their emotions.”

Sarah Corbett – Head of School

Children’s wellbeing and social and emotional development have always been a priority at St Mary’s as the school noticed an increasing level of need among both children and their families, the decision to implement Hamish & Milo proved timely and effective.

The programme was initially led by Sarah Parrett (HLTA/ELSA), working one-to-one with a few children with additional needs. The sessions quickly became a highlight for the children, who engaged well and enjoyed the experience and began using the strategies both in the classroom and at home.

Sarah then joined our accredited training course Hamish & Milo Voyager: Level 3 Wellbeing in Education Award and with her commitment and passion, began to lead small groups and support more children through the various Hamish and Milo programmes.

The programmes used with groups of children so far include:

Amazing me

Exploding me

Calm me

Resilient me

My friends and me

New beginnings and me

Seeing the impact and recognising the value of Hamish & Milo has been instrumental to enable Sarah to develop her work and support more children across the whole school.

A dedicated and beautiful space was created in school for the groups to meet. Children are identified through close collaboration between Sarah, class teachers, the SENCO and the Head of School. With the programme now thriving, plans are in place for Sarah to move to a larger room in September 2025, with protected time in her timetable dedicated to running more Hamish & Milo groups going forward.

“I really love seeing the change over the weeks. At the start, some children have no connection or relationship, but it develops. They become friends, feel safe in the group, and love the activities.“

Sarah Parrett, HLTA/ELSA

During a visit to the school, we were invited to observe the final session of New beginnings and me. The room was beautifully set for a tea party, creating a warm and celebratory atmosphere.

As the children entered, they eagerly reconnected with their sock puppet friends. They shared their feelings and recent news – joined by their puppets too. The group talked openly about changes they were facing, such as moving to a new school or meeting a new teacher, and also about changes at home.

They then created ‘Hope and Dream’ kites, which they took outside to fly. Fortunately, a gentle breeze lifted the kites, adding to the children’s delight. Back indoors, they reflected on their group experiences, received certificates and keepsakes, and said goodbye to their sock puppet companions. Sarah led the session with compassion, energy, and care, facilitating a truly supportive group experience.

“My favourite programme is Calm me – I love how it helps the children to understand what is going on in their brains and bodies. It takes away the power of anxiety and helps them to put words to their feelings. They often feel like they are the only one with these anxious feelings but when they find out they are not alone, it is amazing!”

Sarah Parrett, HLTA/ELSA

Feedback from both parents and teachers highlights the programme’s powerful impact:

“Hamish and Milo has had such a positive impact on our pupils. There’s a theme to suit every need. The children look forward to their sessions, and parents are really appreciative. It’s an invaluable resource that I would recommend to any school.”

Miss Longman, Year 4 teacher

“Our children are flourishing with the support from Mrs Parrett through Hamish & Milo. The children love the sessions and benefit from the optional drop-ins too.”

Mrs Young, Year 3 teacher

The impact of Hamish & Milo at St Mary’s has been remarkable. Sarah’s dedication has not only supported numerous children but also shaped the future of wellbeing provision at the school. From September, she will move into a larger, purpose-designed space, with an expanded timetable for programme delivery.

The next exciting step is to introduce the Families Together programme and work more closely with parents, ensuring Hamish & Milo continues to thrive at the heart of the school community.

We look forward to seeing how Hamish & Milo continues to flourish at St Mary’s First School.