Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what additional support will be made available to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people (a) inside and (b) outside school.

Access to mental health support is more important than ever during COVID-19. NHS services remain open and leading mental health charities are being supported to deliver additional services through the £5 million Coronavirus Mental Health Response Fund. The NHS is also setting up 24/7 open access telephone lines for urgent mental health support for people of all ages.

The Department for Education has established a dedicated helpline and webpages covering advice for the education sector as well as advice for parents and carers supporting children. The GOV.UK web pages include information about how education settings, parents and carers can support children and young people who may be struggling with mental health during this difficult time. This includes educational provision for vulnerable children and children of key workers as well as safeguarding, including keeping children safe from online harms and advice on mental health and behaviour. Within the online education resources there are resources to support mental wellbeing, physical activity, and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The guidance is available at the following links:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-vulnerable-children-and-young-people
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-safeguarding-in-schools-colleges-and-other-providers/coronavirus-covid-19-safeguarding-in-schools-colleges-and-other-providers
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-behaviour-in-schools--2
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-online-education-resources-for-home-education

The return to school will in itself be part of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of pupils as attendance enables social interaction with peers, carers and teachers. Pupil wellbeing is an important consideration within our guidance on actions for educational and childcare settings as they prepare for wider opening as of the 1 June 2020. This guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-educational-and-childcare-settings-to-prepare-for-wider-opening-from-1-june-2020.

We are continuing to talk with school and health partners on how to make further resources and support available to schools as children and young people return.