Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of specialist support within maintained schools to help students with mental health problems.

The way in which specialist support is provided will vary according to local arrangements.

When specialist provision is required, schools and teachers should have support from appropriately trained and qualified local health partners and other organisations. Both education and health providers should be clear when referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are the most appropriate form of specialist support.

To support schools with doing this, on 16 June 2014 the Department for Education issued new non-statutory guidance for schools and teachers on pupils' mental health and behaviour. This guidance helps school staff identify those pupils who may have emerging problems and provides guidance on appropriate routes of ensuring appropriate specialist support where necessary.