Pupils: Mental Health

(asked on 18th November 2014) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to train teachers to identify and intervene in cases of mental health issues affecting school pupils.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Nash
This question was answered on 27th November 2014

Headteachers and teachers are best placed to make decisions about what professional development they require in order to meet the needs of their pupils, and an assessment of training and development needs must be included in teachers’ written appraisal reports. To support teachers identifying and intervening when there are mental health issues, in June the Department for Education issued new non-statutory advice for schools and teachers on pupil’s mental health and behaviour.[1] This provides information, guidance and practical tools on how to build resilience and support good mental health, and helps school staff identify those pupils who may have emerging problems. It also includes links to further support such as MindEd,[2] a website funded by the Department of Health that helps adults identify and support children and young people’s mental health issues.

Sir Andrew Carter is currently chairing an independent review of the quality and effectiveness of Initial Teacher Training courses, which must be designed to ensure that trainees are equipped to meet the teacher standards. These require teachers to have a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs. This review will be published next year.

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

[2] www.minded.org.uk

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