Ballymena nursery school becomes first in Northern Ireland to achieve top ‘gold standard’ emotional wellbeing accreditation

(L-R) Kiran Minhas, Principal Katy Lynas Craig and Clare McGall

A Ballymena nursery school has become the first in Northern Ireland to receive the highest level of recognition for its approach to children’s emotional wellbeing, marking a significant milestone in early years education across the region.

Ballymena Integrated Nursery School has been awarded ‘gold standard’ Togetherness school accreditation — the top tier of a UK-wide scheme led by NHS-backed emotional health experts — in recognition of its whole-school commitment to nurturing mental health for children, staff and families.

The achievement places the local nursery at the forefront of a growing movement to embed emotional wellbeing at the heart of education, particularly in the critical early years when brain development is at its fastest.

Recognition for whole-community approach to emotional health

The Togetherness accreditation scheme recognises schools that fully embed the Solihull Approach model — an evidence-based framework designed to help educators understand children’s behaviour, support emotional development, and build strong, responsive relationships.

Three levels of accreditation exist, with gold representing the highest standard of practice and sustained impact across the entire school community.

Ballymena Integrated Nursery School was recognised for its “outstanding commitment” to nurturing wellbeing, with inspectors highlighting how the Solihull Approach model is actively embedded in daily practice rather than treated as a standalone initiative.

The award reflects a comprehensive, whole-school strategy that extends beyond the classroom to include staff support, parental engagement and community-wide benefits.

What secured the gold award

The nursery’s gold accreditation was underpinned by a series of key developments across its operations:

• Foundation-level Solihull Approach training delivered to all staff, including teaching staff, leadership, classroom assistants and administrative teams

• Reflective supervision training alongside timetabled coaching sessions to actively support staff wellbeing

• Advanced specialist training focused on trauma and attachment

• Structured parent and carer group programmes to extend emotional wellbeing support into the home

• Integration of the approach into pupil behaviour support plans, ensuring consistency in how children’s needs are understood and managed

This layered approach ensures that emotional wellbeing is not confined to policy, but actively shapes relationships, teaching methods and day-to-day interactions.

Expert praise for transformational impact

Principal Katy Lynas Craig with members of staff celebrating the outstanding achievement of Together accreditation at Ballymena Integrated Nursery School

Dr Hazel Douglas MBE, Clinical Psychologist, Child Psychotherapist and Director of Togetherness, said the school’s achievement reflects meaningful change for families as well as pupils.

“We are thrilled to see the difference understanding and embracing the Solihull Approach model is making for the families of Ballymena Integrated Nursery School,” she said.

“Using the Solihull Approach model in schools is about supporting a culture that promotes emotional wellbeing across the whole community, recognising the important relationships and experiences that shape the foundations of mental health for a lifetime.

“Ballymena Integrated Nursery staff hold each child in mind to support their emotional development, providing the right scaffolding to teach their children the skills to regulate themselves in a healthy way.”

Her comments underline the long-term significance of early intervention, particularly in helping children develop emotional regulation skills that can shape lifelong mental health outcomes.

‘Transformational’ impact on staff and pupils

Principal Katy Lynas Craig described the accreditation as a landmark moment for the school, crediting the approach with reshaping how staff understand and respond to children’s behaviour.

“At Ballymena Integrated Nursery School, we have a strong vision of ‘growing together’,” she said.

“Our staff feel privileged to support this early chapter in each child’s own unique story. As we know, the brain develops most rapidly during the early years and the responsive and connected relationships staff develop helps each child thrive.

“Supporting staff to attend Togetherness training and implementing the Solihull Approach model has been transformational.

“We are proud of our practice and how we understand behaviour in nursery – the Solihull Approach model gives us a language to describe our culture around connections.

“To be the first Gold accredited nursery is a fantastic achievement. Our team is inspired and committed to continue our Togetherness journey.”

Her remarks highlight how the initiative has influenced both classroom practice and staff culture, with a shared language and understanding around emotional development now embedded across the school.

Wider significance for Northern Ireland education

The accreditation signals a broader shift in how schools across Northern Ireland are approaching mental health, particularly at nursery level where early intervention can have the greatest long-term impact.

Togetherness accredited schools are expected to go beyond staff training, embedding the principles of emotional health into teaching curricula, pastoral care systems, and partnerships with parents and carers.

The model focuses on equipping staff with the knowledge to interpret behaviour through the lens of child development, while strengthening relationships that support emotional resilience.

By achieving gold status, Ballymena Integrated Nursery School is now positioned as an exemplar of best practice, demonstrating how early years settings can integrate emotional wellbeing into every aspect of school life.

Further information on the Togetherness school accreditation scheme can be found by tapping button below.

Togetherness Accreditation

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At a glance

• Ballymena Integrated Nursery School is the first in Northern Ireland to achieve gold standard Togetherness accreditation

• The award recognises excellence in promoting emotional wellbeing across the whole school community

• Gold is the highest of three accreditation tiers under the NHS-backed scheme

• The school embeds the Solihull Approach model in daily teaching, behaviour support and staff practice

• All staff have received foundation-level training, with additional specialist training in trauma and attachment

• Parent and carer groups form part of the school’s wider emotional health strategy

• Staff wellbeing is supported through reflective supervision and coaching sessions

• Experts say the approach supports lifelong mental health development from early childhood

• The school describes the impact of the model as “transformational”