Many children face worry and fear that stops them from enjoying school. A new trial tested a way to catch these problems early and help families fix them. The study looked at children aged eight to nine years in primary and junior schools across England. Researchers used a simple two-question check to find kids with anxiety issues. Those who screened positive got feedback and parent-led cognitive behavioral therapy through online tools and phone calls. They also received one whole-class session about fears and worries. The other schools only did their normal routine.
After one year, more children in the support group were free of anxiety problems than those in the control group. Specifically, 61 percent of children in the intervention group screened negative for anxiety compared to 38 percent in the control group. This difference was clear and statistically significant. The program worked alongside regular school life without replacing it.
No safety issues or bad events were reported related to the intervention. Parents and schools did not face any harm from the screening or support process. The trial showed that adding this pathway to usual school practice helps reduce anxiety problems in young children.