900,000 more pupils to get access to mental health support, gov says

Almost one million more students will have access to mental health support in school this year, the government has said. Under its plans, all pupils will have access to mental health support in school by 2029/30, delivering on its Plan for Change to “improve children’s life chances and tackle the root causes of poor attendance and behaviour”. The support teams are made up of specialists who will help look to “identify and tackle issues early on”. This includes group sessions to build children’s resilience to one-to-one sessions helping to manage anxiety. According to the government, the new investment means that six in ten pupils will have access to a mental health support team by March 2026, with the rollout prioritised based on NHS identification of local need, and “reaching the most vulnerable children first”. It comes as a new programme to provide intensive support for 500 schools with “significant” attendance and behaviour challenges was unveiled. New attendance and behaviour hubs, built around 90 schools with a track record of improving attendance and behaviour standards, will directly target schools with the highest need. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “We inherited a system full of challenges and breaking the vicious cycle of poor mental health, low attendance and bad behaviour among children and young people is the most urgent one facing our schools – and this government is already turning the tide. “Expanding mental health support for young people is one of the single biggest steps we can take to improve children’s life chances, make sure all pupils are getting the very most out of school and deliver excellence for every child.” She added: “Taken alongside new intensive support for schools that are struggling, our free breakfast clubs for millions of children and our wider work to drive up school attendance, this government will continue using all available levers to break the destructive link between background and success and deliver on our Plan for Change.” Health and Social Care secretary Wes Streeting said: “Facing mental health problems when you’re young can hold you back in school, damage your potential and leave you with lifelong consequences. It’s devastating and it’s got to change. That’s why this government is bringing in vital services to schools, so they can intervene early, support pupils, and help prevent conditions from becoming severe. Backed by an extra £680 million in government funding this year, we are transforming mental health services for children – hiring more staff, delivering more talking therapies, and getting waiting lists down through our Plan for Change – so children can have the best possible start in life.” Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, concluded: “There has been a growing crisis in the mental health of children and young people in recent years, with too many people having to wait too long to get the help they need. “It is reassuring that the government recognises this problem, as well as the impact it is having in schools, and that mental health support will be available to significantly more pupils over the next year. This is a welcome step towards reaching a point where all children and young people can access this specialist support if required.”