THE Duchess of Cambridge praised a 'beacon' project that is leading the way in helping children express their emotions and improve their mental health.

Family Links, which started in Oxford and has now grown to be nationwide and has been working in Pegasus Primary School for more than a decade.

It is credited with helping to turn around the fortunes of the school and has become a model which has been replicated in more than 50 local authority areas.

During her visit, Her Royal Highness said she was 'very impressed' by the charity who work with parents and children to reduce bullying and help them feel able to discuss problems and feelings in an open setting.

All the staff at the school, including dinner ladies and caretakers, are trained in the same approach which focuses less on punishment and more on helping children understand if they have done things wrong.

Mental health amongst children is a cause is close to the heart of the Duchess who will become a mum for the third time in April.

She told staff: "I was very impressed with the children I met.

"To have them speak so articulately is extraordinary really.

"It is pretty unusual and absolutely fantastic to have this ingrained approach with the whole school involved.

"There is so much emphasis on academic success, it is nice to see the life skills you have built up.

"As a mum myself I think it is very important to share emotions.

"I have not seen this type of holistic approach working before."

Among the parents the Duchess met on her visit was Donna Lennon-Sinclair, 40, whose two children, Indrah and Ashley, attend the school.

She said the charity had helped to 'fix her' following a bereavement.

After 10 weeks of workshops she learnt about self esteem, empathy and how to improve her relationship with her children.

She said: "I had lost my way a bit, I was not sure what I was doing or where I was going.

"We all have plans for where we want to be in life but mine just weren't working the way I thought they would.

"It really helped me turn things around and get myself back out there.

"I am a lot more confident in my decisions and know that I am now on the right track."

Sarah Darton, the charity's CEO, said the dedication of the Duchess to talking about mental health is helping to de-stigmatise the issue.

She said: "I think she came away with an idea of what can be done in a school like ours and what a huge difference it can make.

"Pegasus is a very important site for us, it has become our beacon.

"We hope to equip the students with the emotional skills they need and teach them the best way to respond to problems.

"Hopefully in the long run it can reduce the risk of children being stressed and experiencing mental health difficulties.

"As they grow older and something goes wrong they will not lash out and can make more positive choices."