A motion passed by members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers at their annual conference in Liverpool over Easter warned that as many as three children in every classroom have a diagnosable mental health disorder.
Bella Hewes, a specialist dyslexic tutor from Oxford who moved the motion, told the conference that so-called “safe havens” could be a key strategy in helping pupils struggling with issues such as depression and stress.
Safe havens could be physical spaces in the school building where children can go to feel safe if they are struggling with mental health-related or other issues.
The debate came after the findings of an ATL survey, released at the conference, showed that 91 per cent of 861 school staff who responded said that they knew of children in their schools who had mental health issues.
Register now, read forever
Thank you for visiting SecEd and reading some of our content for professionals in secondary education. Register now for free to get unlimited access to all content.
What's included:
-
Unlimited access to news, best practice articles and podcast
-
New content and e-bulletins delivered straight to your inbox every Monday and Thursday
Already have an account? Sign in here