Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what continuing bereavement support services he plans to make available to support children in relation to (a) deaths from covid-19 and (b) other deaths during the covid-19 outbreak.

The government remains committed to promoting and supporting the mental health of children and young people. Access to mental health support including bereavement 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 also 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, and 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 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-vulnerable-children-and-young-people), information on safeguarding and keeping children safe from online harms (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) and advice on mental health and behaviour (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-behaviour-in-schools--2).

Within the online education resources available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-online-education-resources-for-home-education, there are resources to support mental wellbeing and physical activity, including support for bereavement and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The Department for Education is working across government to consider what further resources and support including bereavement support might be appropriate to support children and young people during the COVID-19 outbreak.