HC Deb 27 July 2000 vol 354 cc856-7W
Ms Julie Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to ensure that teachers receive training about the mental health of children and young people; and if this will form part of their(a) initial or (b) in-service training. [132484]

Ms Estelle Morris

All teachers, as part of their initial teacher training, are trained in how to identify and deal with special educational needs. In order to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) trainees must demonstrate that they meet all of the standards for the award of QTS which include specific references to special educational needs. All teachers must also meet induction standards, which cover special educational needs, at the end of their induction year.

With regard to in-service training in special educational needs for teachers, the Department is supporting expenditure of £26 million under the Standards Fund for 2000–01. In addition, £6 million is being supported through the Standards Fund for work on emotional and behavioural difficulties, including projects to identify and provide for the learning needs of children with mental health problems. Good practice arising from these projects will be widely disseminated, alongside other guidance on child mental health issues currently being prepared by the Department.

Ms Julie Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of children in mainstream schools have mental health problems; and what steps he proposes to take to provide them with support. [132548]

Jacqui Smith

Based on the survey of 10,000 children conducted by the Office for National Statistics, and published in March 2000, it is estimated that 10 per cent. of children aged 5–15 years have a mental disorder. This includes emotional disorders—anxiety and depression—conduct disorders and hyperactivity. The majority of children with these mental ill health problems are being educated in mainstream schools.

My Department, working closely with the Department of Health and taking advice from experts in the child mental health field, is preparing good practice guidance, based on existing case studies, for a range of school settings. This will help teachers work effectively with pupils with emotional and mental health problems. It will be followed by further guidance next year, including examples of effective working between schools and local Child and Adolescent Mental Health services.

The Special Educational Needs element of the Standards Fund grant for England provides scope for funding projects for identifying and providing for the learning needs of children with mental health problems. A number of projects currently underway involve schools working with health services and educational psychologists, including projects with a specific focus on child mental health. We aim to include examples of good practice from these projects in our guidance and make them available on the Department's Internet site. In addition, the support provided under the Standards Fund for Special Educational Needs training may be used for training in relation to children with mental health problems.