STUDENTS at a Wyre Forest primary school have helped to develop two new picture books designed to support children's mental health as they return to lessons for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown.

Pupils at Chaddesley Corbett Endowed Primary School helped village resident and lead author Professor Barry Carpenter to decide on the pictures for the new wordless books, which are now free to download online.

'Lenny and Lily in Lockdown' and 'Lenny and Lily Return to School' were developed by Mr Carpenter to help children to express their feelings and emotions surrounding life in lockdown through the stories of the books' main characters.

Mr Carpenter said: "Children have had their world turned upside down by the pandemic. Many are angry and confused, carrying lots of unprocessed information.

"These books will offer opportunities for children to recall those experiences, and, in so doing, tell their story.

"The books make a unique contribution to the recovery curriculum of any school, and to its overall curriculum work in social, emotional and mental health.”

Mr Carpenter joined together with artist Charlotte Firmin to develop the two stories, which are specially-designed to help children make sense of their experiences since lockdown began, communicate their feelings and prepare for more changes as they return to the classroom.

Chair of governors at Chaddesley Corbett Endowed Primary school, Polly McMeeking, said: "“Many of our children are returning to school for the first time in six months, and their teachers know that every one of them will need time to talk about their experiences, hopes and fears.

"Teachers welcome the opportunity to acknowledge and share the journey of readjustment each child will make.

"These beautiful wordless stories offer a unique way to help children recall, reflect upon and tell their own stories of lockdown.

"The sharing of the books supports the safe unlocking of feelings about this difficult time and encourages talk about emotions as the children return to school and move forward on the path to recovery."

As the latest additions to the award-winning Books Beyond Words series, the Lenny and Lily books can help teaching staff open up conversations with pupils about their experiences and the emotions they have felt over the past few months.

They can also be used by parents to read with children to help them discuss any anxieties around returning to school.

Both stories are available to download for free in time for the start of the new term from booksbeyondwords.co.uk/lenny-and-lily-childrens-stories.