Written question WQ84816

In March 2021, we published statutory guidance for schools on meeting the well-being needs of the whole school community. We have invested £9m during 2021-22 to support the implementation of the guidance, with £745k earmarked to support training for teachers and other school staff. Our budget proposals for 2022-23 to 2024-25 demonstrate our commitment to expand this work with the funding total rising to £16.6m by 2024-25.

In addition, we are also supporting the national rollout of the CAMHS school in-reach service. In 2021-22, we have provided almost £4m towards the service, which funds dedicated mental health practitioners in schools providing consultation, liaison, advice and training to school staff.

We have also worked with Welsh Higher Education Institutions to develop professional learning and awareness raising resources for schools on issues such as child development, anxiety, and resources developed specifically in response to the Covid19 pandemic. These resources have been developed for use in initial teacher training, by newly qualified teachers and serving practitioners as part of their continuing professional learning.

Well-being is not just about learners. We have awarded additional professional learning funding to the regional consortia to work with the National Academy for Educational Leadership and local authorities to support head teacher well-being, through a specially designed coaching and mentoring programme.

Over 400 facilitator coaches are already in place. It is anticipated that almost 1,500 practitioners will receive Coaching and Mentoring training by the summer (equivalent to ILM 3). Phase 2 of the programme will target ALNCOs and Induction tutors.

The National Academy for Educational Leadership are developing an approach on ‘Compassionate Leadership,’ based on work undertaken in the health sector. They have also worked with head teachers involved in their Head-to-Head Programme to further support well-being. The “Heads Up” Report was developed as a result of a workforce survey issued by the Academy and will inform the work of Education Support, building on existing practice through the framework that outlines the whole school approach to mental health and well-being.

Education workforce well-being is a key priority and Welsh Government have provided funding to Education Support (a specialist provider of well-being resources and support for the education workforce) to deliver a dedicated and tailored package of mental health and wellbeing support services for education staff. This includes bespoke peer support and telephone based service for senior leaders, a Taking Care of Teachers hub for all education workforce staff, a school wellbeing service, webinars, resilience training and the support of two school well-being advisors.

Additional in-year funding has been awarded to develop a pilot project to provide additional support for safeguarding leads and to translate and widely disseminate resources already developed. This support can be accessed by the whole of the education workforce across Wales. Additionally, Education Support also provide other services including a free and confidential helpline and a hardship grant offer.

Funding has also been agreed for Education Support to develop bespoke support for Teaching Assistants, which will be developed in conjunction with practicing teaching assistants, taking account of their experiences and specific support requirements. We hope to be in a position to roll-out this support in schools in the near future.

Moving forward, Welsh Government is working with stakeholders and Education Support to look at ways of increasing the reach and impact of the well-being offer across the education workforce. This offer will run in parallel with statutory well-being arrangements in place by employers for their staff.