Commenting on new research by the National Foundation for
Educational Research (NFER) on an increase in pupils with mental
health issues, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of
the National Education Union, said:
“The findings of NFER’s report will chime with the experiences of
education professionals across the country. Thousands of children
and young people have been impacted by the pandemic in different
ways and many will need increased support to manage their
emotional wellbeing now and over the long term. It is also no
surprise that schools in deprived areas are witnessing an
increase in pupils with mental health issues and anxiety. 31% of
children are living in poverty in the UK – 9 in every class of
30. We know what a devasting impact poverty can have on
children’s mental wellbeing and learning and ability to access
support.
"The NEU is campaigning for more investment in schools so that
they can properly support children’s learning and wellbeing. We
know that currently schools do not have access to the levels of
support they need to help children recover – whether that is
rooted in academic support or pastoral. The Government’s own
recovery commissioner, Sir , recommended
£15bn for recovery but the Treasury came back with just £1.4
billion. Education recovery cannot be done on the cheap. £1.4
billion is nowhere near enough to support the learning and
wellbeing needs of our children.
"Crucially, there must be a sea-change in the Department for
Education’s approach to education recovery. In our own State of
Education report this year, education professionals reported that
the biggest barrier to supporting pupil mental health and
wellbeing was the pressure to prioritise ‘catch up’ of lost
learning. (1) In order to empower schools to prioritise
children’s wellbeing, we must see a change in the DfE’s
priorities about what recovery can and should look like. We know
what an important role schools play in helping children to
regulate their emotions, build resilience and identify those who
need more targeted or specialist support. Schools must have the
time to do this alongside academic recovery and the curriculum
must be flexible to adjust to the social and development needs of
children and young people."
ENDS
Editor’s Note
- The State of Education: Young People’s Mental Health, April
2021 https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/state-education-young-peoples-mental-health-0
