Recommendation 20

HM Government · verbatim extract Not Addressed

94. We accept this recommendation in part. 95. The department and the Department for Education are committed to supporting schools to adopt and deliver an integrated, whole-school approach to mental wellbeing, which is tailored to the needs of their pupils. 96. On 21 September 2021, the Department for Education, in partnership with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition published updated guidance on taking whole school and college approaches to mental wellbeing . [footnote 4] This guidance provides schools and colleges with further information on how to develop mental health and wellbeing practices that help support all their pupils. 97. Schools are not mandated to provide counselling services (in England), as it is important to ensure they have the freedom to decide what support to offer their pupils based on their particular needs. However, we recognise that school-based counselling can be an effective part of a whole-school approach. To further support schools that have decided that counselling support is appropriate for their pupils, the Department for Education has produced guidance on how to deliver high quality school-based counselling . In light of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department for Education has committed to updating this guidance to make sure it reflects the current context. This being updated with a view to publishing it in 2022. The updated guidance will include information on how schools can access digital or remote support for their students where appropriate. 98. We recognise that it is critical for education staff to have the tools and knowledge to be able to identify signs of potential mental health issues and respond effectively. That is why we have placed a real focus on providing training and support to schools and colleges to understand what children and young people are experiencing and how to support them. The Department for Education’s recent £15 million Wellbeing for Education Recovery and Return programmes have provided free expert training, support and resources for education staff dealing with children and young people experiencing additional pressures from COVID-19 – including anxiety and stress. 99. The Department for Education have also published a comprehensive lists of mental health and wellbeing resources for children and young people [footnote 6] – one aimed at education staff and the other for education settings to pass on to their students to enable them to access and seek support on a range of issues independently, including digitally, should they wish to.