LOMOND School has become the first school on the west coast of Scotland to deliver a specialised course for local parents to understand, support and nurture their children’s emotional wellbeing.

Raising Children with Confidence, a course created by Edinburgh City Council, is a research-based course designed to promote and support emotional wellbeing in parents and children.

Ailsa Lawn, head of Lomond Junior School, led the sessions, which ran over five weeks and were attended by over 40 parents from Lomond, Rhu Primary and Hermitage Primary.

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The sessions, which focus on improving children’s resilience and confidence, use research-backed findings to teach parents about child brain development, empathy development and the effects of media on childhood development, and provide practical strategies which can be implemented at home.

The course runs in conjunction to the similar, pupil-focused Building Resilience programme, which Lomond School runs across all stages of its Junior School.

The programme takes a progressive, community approach towards teaching children to develop their emotional health, using group activities and challenges to promote social connection, physical activity and key messages.

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Ailsa said: “This course has provided parents with a framework of high quality research which helps each family find the right path for them. It gives parents time to reflect on their parenting style and an opportunity to talk to other parents about important issues.

“Studies have consistently shown that our mental health impacts all areas of our lives, so building strong, healthy foundations early in children’s lives is vital to ensuring their confidence, success and wellbeing as they progress.

“As parents, teachers and role-models, it is also important that we are aware of our own emotional and mental health, and working together to ensure we have the skills and resources to cope and thrive in our family lives is paramount to this.”