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<p>The mental health of children is a priority for this government. We know schools
can play a vital role in supporting this, particularly by providing calm, safe and
supportive learning environments that promote good mental wellbeing and help pupils
who need it to access early targeted support.</p><p>It is important to remember it
is not the role of schools to diagnose or treat mental health conditions. Schools
are best placed to decide what support to provide to respond to the mental health
needs of their pupils including, where necessary, through referrals to NHS specialist
services.</p><p>The department is offering a grant to all schools and colleges in
England to train a senior mental health lead, helping schools to put in place effective
approaches to mental health and wellbeing. This should include robust processes for
identifying pupils or specific groups who need additional mental health support. More
than 13,800 schools and colleges have now received a senior mental health lead training
grant, including more than 70% of state-funded secondary schools.</p><p>To expand
access to early mental health support, the department is working with NHS England
to increase the number of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) working with schools
and colleges. These teams include trained professionals who can offer support to children
experiencing common mental health problems and liaise with external specialist services
to help pupils get the right support. As of April 2023, MHSTs covered 35% of pupils
in schools and learners in further education in England. A further 100 teams are expected
to be operational by April 2024, when MHSTs will cover an estimated 44% of pupils
and learners.</p><p> </p>
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