Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the press release, National mental health programme between schools and NHS, published on 12 July 2019, what plans he has to ensure that the Link Programme of training for each school, college and alternative provision setting includes awareness of the links between mental health and speech, language and communication needs.

Over the next four years, the Link Programme will be offered to every school and college in England at a cost of £9.3 million, covering up to 22,000 schools and colleges. The programme is designed to improve communication and partnership between NHS mental health services and education professionals, so that more children and young people receive the help and support they need, and are referred to specialist services if necessary.

The programme brings together education and mental health professions and when specific needs such as speech, language and communication are identified they can be matched or signposted to local services for support.

Schools are required to identify and address the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) requirements of their pupils, and to use their best endeavours to make sure that those pupils receive the support they need.

In 2018, we announced new contracts worth more than £25 million to help ensure children with SEND access excellent support, including those with speech, language and communication needs. This included £3.4 million for 2018-2020 to equip the school workforce to deliver high-quality teaching across all types of SEND.