The Department for Education and Department of Health have launched a new interactive resource, named ‘MindEd’, aimed at offering support to concerned children and families.
The website direct visitors to various sections of the site, which provide expert advice on a number of issues, including: sexual orientation and gender; risky behaviour; eating disorders; and being a parent in the digital age.
The move comes after YoungMinds published research showing that 850,000 children aged 5-16 in the UK are currently living with a mental health issue. Clinicians have also argued that early intervention is vital in identifying and addressing issues before they impact young people’s lives negatively.
Nick Harrop, media and campaigns manager at Young minds, welcomed the arrival of MindEd.
He said: “We know that early intervention is crucial but many local authorities have repeatedly had their budgets slashed on things like social workers, support programmes for parents, educational psychologists and targeted mental health services in schools.
"This has put a huge burden on services further up the chain, which simply can’t cope with the demand. Young people referred to specialised mental health services are now at the mercy of a postcode lottery."
Harrop added: “Family breakdown, stress at school, body image issues, early sexualisation, 24/7 online networking, bullying on and offline and uncertainty about the future after school are all piling on the stress.”
Ofsted has shared findings from pilot inspections carried out in 115 schools this autumn, ahead of the full rollout of its renewed inspection framework.
The TV, radio and multi media campaign deals with the root causes of absences and identifies ways to approach conversations about wellbeing that can help pupils to improve their attendance.
The government will publish a new set of enrichment benchmarks, with schools asked to ensure every child has access to activities across five categories of enrichment.
The policy introduces the new Chief Regulator’s Rebuke - a new tool which can be used when an awarding organisation is found to have breached rules, but not in a way that warrants a financial penalty.