Statement on the DfE announcement on mental health, attendance and behaviour

May 2025

It’s encouraging to see the Government make the link between mental wellbeing and school attendance and provide additional resources to help schools.

But we’re still concerned that these measures will focus on the child in school and not the wider family.

The Government must use its Spending Review to fund whole family support practitioners for every school – using the School-Home Support model and approach as the blueprint. 

CEO, School-Home Support, Jaine Stannard:

“Poor mental health is a key driver in school absence for young people. We welcome the additional support and resources for schools to tackle this. SHS frontline practitioners working with absentees report that parent wellbeing is a key factor. When parents are dealing with complex challenges school attendance becomes a second or third order issue.  Two-thirds of the families we work with are facing at least 2 major challenges at home with home and money as the most common struggle  faced by parents/carers of the children we support. 

Attendance support for children needs to involve parents and carers from the start and include practical and emotional support for the whole family when needed. A dedicated family support worker can really help improve whole family wellbeing and with that, school attendance.  It’s not just about supporting the child in school, it’s also about the home the child returns to.”