Agenda item

MENTAL HEALTH PROVISION IN EDUCATION

Minutes:

During the forward work programme planning the Committee identified Mental Health Provision in Education as an area of interest and requested a report. The Head of Curriculum and Wellbeing gave an overview of the report which contained data on youth suicide, an outline of support available for at risk young people, school-based initiatives, and an overview of good practice and the national context.

 

Members raised the following matters/questions in relation to the report –

 

The Committee referred to the Issues Arising on page 63 of the report which listed exams and school expectations as one of the main pressures and challenges to wellbeing. The Head of Curriculum and Wellbeing advised that young people were very candid in focus groups and listed a broad range of issues, noting that school expectations were high on the list but was not the definitive view across the board. Acknowledging that there are significant pressures on schools to perform and this can be passed on to children who may feel it acutely during exam times. He further noted that the new curriculum would bring new pressures which would need to be tackled in the future. He shared the view that the wellbeing of learners should be addressed first and foremost ensuring that young people are free from anxiety, stress and worries; and in turn standards would improve.

 

Members noted the case study relating to Ysgol Brynsierfel and asked whether this was being replicated in every school, Members referenced the SPEAKR programme which was relatively in widespread use. The Head of Curriculum and Wellbeing advised that there was some very good practice in a number of schools some of which has been recognised by ESTYN. He advised that the SPEAKR programme was a commercial package available for schools to purchase, the programme allows pupils to log when they are happy or not and teachers are able to review data at several points during the school day. The Head of School Effectiveness advised that there were many shared initiatives across the ERW regions with some international work including the Lost Words project.

 

Members raised a query on the low number of referrals to CAMHS in relation to the national figures, and the high number of girls accessing counselling services when compared to the number of boys. The Head of Curriculum and Wellbeing advised that the data from Hywel Dda University Health Board are accurate but acknowledged that the number of referrals to CAHMS were lower than expected. In response to the fact that the number of boys accessing counselling services was half the total number of girls, the Head of Curriculum and Wellbeing suggested that some factors could be a consideration, such as whether boys are more likely to mask their issues and that girls are usually more open and less inclined to mask their issues. He also noted that boys are more likely to be referred for behavioural issues than girls and that this may be a factor.

 

In noting the increase in the instances of suicide amongst boys and young men, Members asked what guidance was available to schools to identify any early warning signs. The Head of School Improvement advised that schools are working from the Foundation Phase upwards to normalise discussion on these issues and that staff are trained and supported to refer pupils to relevant pathways. Staff are also upskilled to understand the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma. The Head of Curriculum and Wellbeing advised that the Welsh Government had recently published comprehensive guidance on responding to issues of self-harm and thoughts of suicide in young people and included how to ask questions of children and young people who may have suicidal feelings or are self-harming.

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.

 

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