Written question WQ96413

The Education and Health sectors continue to collaborate in a range of ways to reduce persistent school absence. Community Focused Schools are part of a whole systems approach to support children and young people of which the health sector is an integral part to this approach. In March 2025, I published multi-agency engagement guidance to support schools to identify and work with the appropriate services including health and social care.

In 2025-26 the Welsh Government has made £13.6 million available from its education and health budgets to support implementation of the Whole School Approach to Emotional and Mental Well-being Framework and programme of work through schools. Mental health, anxiety and Emotionally based School Avoidance are all reasons why children may not attend school. We have allocated £4.75m within the Local Authority Education Grant (LAEG) Reform strand of funding to support local authorities’ provision of school and community-based counselling for learners; delivery of universal and targeted well-being interventions; and training for teachers and other school staff on how to support well-being. This is delivered in partnership with health services.

We are also providing annual funding of just over £780k in 2025-26 to Public Health Wales. This funds implementation co-ordinators to work with schools across Wales, helping them assess the well-being needs of learners, teachers and their whole school community. £5.6m of funding has ensured continued support from Health Boards in Wales to deliver the national CAMHS School In-reach service which sees dedicated mental health professionals in schools providing consultation, liaison, advice and training for teachers and other school staff.