A NUMBER of projects are underway across Blackburn with Darwen to improve the emotional health and wellbeing of schoolchildren.

Blackburn with Darwen's Virtual School, which works to ensure children in care get the best possible support with their education, has teamed up with St Cuthbert's CE Primary and Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust to develop an Adverse Childhood Experiences pathfinder project.

The project has trained professionals within schools who focus on understanding why and what the triggers are for a child's behaviour rather than seeing it as a problem to fix.

The programme is being developed to be used in more primary schools.

Another project - the EmBRACE (Emotional and Brain Resilience to Adverse Childhood Experience) piloted at Witton Park Academy in Blackburn.

It aims to increase awareness of adverse childhood experiences and equip staff and pupils with the skills and confidence to help.