Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that teachers, pastoral leaders, special educational needs co-ordinators and others working to support children in schools are able to support the identification and management of children with mental health issues.

In June 2014 the Department for Education published advice on behaviour and mental health in schools which aimed to help schools support all pupils’ mental health and wellbeing so that they can succeed in school. The guidance, which is published online[1] provides case studies, information and links to organisations that can be approached for advice including on making referrals to specialist services.

The guidance also includes the new Mind Ed e-portal which is funded by the Department of Health and was launched earlier this year to provide training and information on mental health for all adults working with children and young people.

The new 0-25 Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice, due to be implemented from September, make it clear that schools should seek to identify underlying mental health conditions that their pupils have. The Code requires education, health and care services to jointly commission services for children and young people with SEND. It also requires the publication of a local offer in each local authority area, setting out all the services for children and young people with SEND, including mental health services. These should help schools to access the specialist support that they need.

The Department has funded a wide range of support for the implementation of the SEND reforms from local authorities and the voluntary and community sector. This includes Nansen’s new SEND Gateway which brings together a wide range of practical information, advice and training for school staff and others working with pupils with SEND. This information can be found online at: www.sendgateway.org.uk

[1] www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-behaviour-in-schools--2