Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gavin Williamson and Stephen Morgan

Monday 18th January 2021 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Williamson]

I know that my right hon. Friend speaks for many in the House who have particular concerns about children’s mental health, and about making sure that, as we work through this pandemic, this is not something that is forgotten and on which no action is taken. We have already undertaken work on helping schools to train staff to support not just pupils, but staff. I would be very happy to sit down with my right hon. Friend to discuss the work that many charities and voluntary organisations undertake, and how they can properly and fully support all children and all those who work in the education sector when it comes to their mental health.

[Stephen Morgan (Portsmouth South) (Lab)]

What steps he is taking to ensure the financial stability of early years providers during the covid-19 outbreak.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gavin Williamson and Stephen Morgan

Monday 22nd June 2020 Commons Chamber

[James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to support pupils’ mental health during the covid-19 outbreak.

[Stephen Morgan (Portsmouth South) (Lab)]

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that pupils are supported (a) academically and (b) emotionally on their return to school after the covid-19 lockdown.

[The Secretary of State for Education (Gavin Williamson)]

We have published guidance and resources for parents and schools on how to support children’s mental wellbeing while they are not at school. We have given schools the flexibility to have a face-to-face check-up with all pupils during the summer term. Returning to school is the most vital factor in the wellbeing of pupils and educational progress. We have recently produced new training for teachers on how to teach about mental health issues as pupils go back to school.

--- Later in debate ---

[Gavin Williamson]

My hon. Friend champions the mental wellbeing of young people and all his constituents often and regularly. I would be happy to meet him to discuss how we can do more to help. We are working closely with both Public Health England and NHS England on how we can help and support them to reduce CAMHS waiting times. In addition, I will raise the issue with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

[Stephen Morgan]

Calls to Childline are rising, and YoungMinds has found that around four in five children with pre-existing mental health problems have had those problems worsened in this crisis, yet referrals to CAMHS have been down by as much as 50% in some areas. How do the Government plan to deal with the inevitable rise in demand for mental health services, as identified by teachers in Portsmouth?

[Gavin Williamson]

There is a great deal of cross-party consensus on this issue and how important it is. Often, people approach schools as almost the first port of call—the easiest way to access services. It is about how we integrate health services with educational services ever more closely. We have put in an additional £5 million-worth of mental health support, but we do recognise that in lot of areas we can make sure that interventions come earlier so it does not get to crisis point.