I am Jenny Nash, the Designated Mental Health Lead for the Devon Moors Federation and have been since September 2026. I completed my training with Dragonfly: Impact Education in July 2024 and have been the Designated Mental Health Lead for Lympstone Primary since 2023. As Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and a teacher for over 20 years, I feel very strongly that protecting the mental health of our children, staff and family members is vital. 

As a Federation, we have been working with the Mental Health Support Team (MHST) for the last three years, with each school either fully on board or soon to be starting the process. Currently, Lympstone, Shute, Kilmington and Upottery all have the MHST working in their schools. Education Mental Health Practitioner’s (EMHP) visit each week to work with children on a one-to-one basis. They also regularly lead training for staff and coffee morning talks for families to attend. 

If you ever have questions about, or suggestions for mental health in the Devon Moors Federation, or you have concerns about your child, please do contact your schools' Designated Mental Health Lead. Alternatively, let your child's class teacher know, and they can pass on a concern referral to the MHL.

The Mental Health Leads for each school are as follows:

Lympstone CofE Primary: Jenny Nash

Shute Primary: Sophie Percival

Kilmington Primary: Lee White

Upottery Primary: Tom Pettifer

Clyst Hydon Primary: Charlotte Stevens

Spreyton Primary: Emma Donne

Filleigh Primary: Liz Eggleton

Copplestone Primary: Tara Penny

  

Mental Health Support for parents:

MHST - The Mental Health Support Team in Schools (MHST) - Children and Family Health Devon

Heads Up - Starting point -  Mental Health Awareness CIC

School Nurse Team - Request support from the School Nursing Team

Normal Magic (10 a day) - 10-a-day - Normal Magic

Family Hubs - Family hubs in Devon - Devon County Council

Stormbreak - Stormbreak CIO

Mind - Mental health and wellbeing info for young people

BBC Children in Need Mental Health - Wellbeing support for young people and children 

Lumi Nova - Tales of Courage - Children and Family Health Devon

Anna Freud - Let's talk about anxiety: animation and teacher toolkit

Books that help - BOOKS THAT HELP

FFLAG - Supporting families and our LGBT+ loved ones with pride

Frank - Honest information about drugs

Youth Arts and Health Trust - Our Projects | Youth Arts & Health Trust

Action for Children - Parent Talk - Support for Parents from Action For Children

YMCA Exeter - Children's Wellbeing Service

Happy Maps - A one-stop hub for children's mental health

Every Mind Matters - Every Mind Matters - NHS

Mental Health Foundation - Sleep - How to sleep better

Children's society - Young people's mental health & wellbeing resources

Young minds - Worry box - How to make a worry box: a guide for parents & Parents Helpline

Parenting Smart - Place 2 Be -  Parenting Smart - Articles

Young carers - Young carers - Children, families and education

Bereavement support: 

Winstons Wish - Bereavement Support for Children

Cruse bereavement support -  Cruse Bereavement Support

Balloons - Bereavement and loss looking onwards

Pete's Dragons - Making sure those impacted by suicide are supported

Household support:

Cost of living advice - Cost of living

Early Help - Devon Safeguarding Children Partnership

Fear Free - Local Support for Domestic Abuse

Family Lives - How we can help - Coram Family Lives

Online support:

NSPCC - Keeping children safe online | NSPCC

SWGFL- Resources for Education | SWGfL

Internet Matters - Keep Children Safe Online: Information, advice, support

These plus many more websites are listed here: Family wellbeing - Children, families and education