What measures is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that teachers and support staff within schools are properly resourced and equipped to provide support to students living with a mental health illness?
In March 2021, we published our statutory framework guidance on embedding a whole school approach to emotional and mental wellbeing. To support the implementation of the framework and demonstrating our commitment we are increasing our funding for wellbeing in schools from £9m in 2021-22 to £12.2m in 2022-23; £14.4m in 2023-24; and £16.6m in 2024-25. Funding will be used to support improvements and an expansion in school counselling; the delivery of universal and targeted interventions in schools; and to train teaching and other school staff in children’s wellbeing.
In addition we have also commissioned Welsh universities to develop a range of online wellbeing resources, including resources specifically aimed at supporting wellbeing during the Covid19 pandemic and beyond. These are available for use in initial teacher training; by newly qualified teachers; and by the wider education workforce as part of continuous professional development.
We are also providing over £5m in 2022-23, in addition to funding of £3.9m in 2021-22 to support national rollout of the CAMHS school in-reach, which sees dedicated mental health practitioners working in schools to provide consultation, liaison, advice and training.