We welcome plans to reform the outdated SEND support system through the Education for All Bill, confirmed in yesterdays Kings Speech. Any changes must continue to support children experiencing mental ill health and ensure those with the greatest needs receive the highest level of support. We are responding to the SEND reform consultation in collaboration with the Schools Wellbeing Partnership to ensure every young person gets the support they need to learn and thrive at school.
We are happy to see the NHS Modernisation Bill to ‘reduce inefficiency, drive innovation, and support early intervention to help people stay well for longer.’ The Government should use this opportunity to prioritise and commit funding to children and young people’s mental health. As part of the Future Minds Campaign, we set out a roadmap highlighting how by expanding community-based support and access to diverse and effective interventions, the Government can ensure help reaches children and young people before crises occur.
We are pleased the Government highlighted a focus on helping young people to flourish at work. To succeed, they must listen to young people about the barriers they face and the support that makes a difference. Accessible mental health support, employability programmes and flexible employers can all help young people to find and sustain meaningful work.
The speech contained several further policies that could impact the mental health needs of babies, children, and young people, including a welcome commitment to publish draft legislation to ban conversation therapy.
