Oral Answers to Questions

James Sunderland Excerpts

Monday 22nd June 2020 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Williamson]

I thank my right hon. Friend for his input, advice and thoughts about how we can make sure that any intervention delivers the very best results. I can confirm that we would be happy to work with Essex County Council. In the Education Endowment Foundation’s guidance on how the money can be targeted to deliver the best educational advantage, summer camps are one of the schemes suggested.

[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.

[James Sunderland]

Covid-19 has had a significant impact on the provision of child and adolescent mental health services throughout the UK. Will the Secretary of State please confirm what is happening right now to reduce the backlog?