Rawmarsh and Conisbrough MP, John Healey, has welcomed plans to ensure almost one million more young people will have access to mental health support in school this year.
It’s as the government gets on with delivering its manifesto promise for a national rollout taking a huge step in fixing the inherited challenges facing our children.
Under government 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 new investment of up to £49m means 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.
John Healey MP said:
“I’ve been calling for an increase in mental health support for young people for the past seven years – when I carried out my first Schools Mental Health report, took local head teachers to Westminster to meet with the Schools Minister and secured funding to set up mental health support teams as part of the trailblazer scheme in Rotherham.
“As a new government we inherited a system with children stranded for months on mental health waiting lists waiting to get the help they desperately need. 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.
“Poor mental health is a key barrier to learning, to young people seizing the opportunities to get on and expanding mental health support for young people is one of the single biggest steps we can take to improve children’s life chances.”
The new investment means 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.
Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:
“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.”
More widely, the government is recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health workers across children and adult mental health services to reduce delays and provide faster treatment.
This will work alongside the further 6,500 teachers so every classroom has a brilliant teacher, to ensure that every child is supported in and outside of school.