A Watford primary school is leading the way in early mental health treatment for children by championing a therapy technique using creativity to uncover trauma.

Established in 2004, Drawing and Talking teaches an innovative therapeutic method used by adults to help children who have suffered trauma or who have underlying emotional problems affecting their learning and behaviour.

Laurance Haines primary and nursery school in West Watford, first employed the therapy method in 2012, when the school’s nurture leader, Nicola Furey, undertook training.

The method encourages each side of a child’s brain to work together to process difficult or painful memories by combining drawing, a right-brained activity, and talking, a left-brained activity.

Children who are referred for the 12-week programme will have likely experienced bereavement, bullying, parents’ divorce, abuse or unsettling things like moving house and starting a new school.

It is estimated 10 per cent of children have a clinically diagnosable mental health problem and, in some areas of the country, they are stuck on waiting lists for treatment for up to three years.

Deputy head of Laurance Haines Lizzie Butler said: “In our school there are around 540 pupils, that’s 54 pupils who need some kind of support.

“You can see why Drawing and Talking is so valuable to us.

“While academic skills are extremely important, we are lucky to have a very forward-thinking leadership team, who understand the emotional wellbeing of a child is also key to their development.”