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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 16 May 2022
Making Britain the Best Place to Grow Up and Grow Old

"I welcome the concentration in the Queen’s Speech on the importance of levelling up and expanding opportunity across the whole country, which is fundamental to our mission. It could not be more important than in the health service. I am glad to see the Minister for Health, my hon. Friend …..."
Robert Neill - View Speech

View all Robert Neill (Con - Bromley and Chislehurst) contributions to the debate on: Making Britain the Best Place to Grow Up and Grow Old
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 06 Sep 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

"8. What plans the Government have to support the future of music education. ..."
Robert Neill - View Speech

View all Robert Neill (Con - Bromley and Chislehurst) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 06 Sep 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

"I welcome my right hon. Friend’s commitment to refreshing the national music plan because, as I hope he recognises, music education is central to any civilised society and should not be regarded as an add-on or a nice-to-have. He will share my concern that in the 10-year currency of the …..."
Robert Neill - View Speech

View all Robert Neill (Con - Bromley and Chislehurst) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 25 Feb 2021
Education Return and Awarding Qualifications in 2021

"About 7% of children in England go to fee-paying schools. Those pupils also face pressures in learning at home, and many of their parents’ incomes have been severely impacted by the consequences of the pandemic. What discussions has my right hon. Friend had and what guidance does he propose to …..."
Robert Neill - View Speech

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Written Question
Pupils: Mental Health
Monday 7th September 2020

Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)

Question to the Department for Education:

What steps his Department is taking to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people as they return to school as covid-19 restrictions are eased.

Answered by Vicky Ford

Getting children and young people back into education, with settings devoting time to supporting wellbeing, will play a fundamental part in supporting children and young people’s mental health. The return to school will allow social interaction with peers, carers and teachers, which benefits wellbeing. The department has now published detailed plans?for all children and young people to return to full-time education from September. The guidance for schools is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.

We have been working hard to ensure that all pupils and learners will return to a full high-quality education programme in September. Our £1 billion Covid catch-up package, with £650 million shared across schools over the 2020-21 academic year, will support education settings to put the right catch-up and pastoral support in place. More information is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/billion-pound-covid-catch-up-plan-to-tackle-impact-of-lost-teaching-time.

As pupils return to school, staff need to be equipped to understand that some children and young people may be experiencing feelings in such as anxiety, stress or low mood as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, and that these are normal responses to an abnormal situation. Our Mental Health and Behaviour in Schools Advice includes information about what to look for in terms of underlying mental health issues, linked to the graduated response and the support that might be suitable. More information is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-behaviour-in-schools--2.

From September, the Government is investing £8 million to launch the new Wellbeing for Education Return training programme, which will provide schools and colleges all over England with the knowledge and practical skills they need to support teachers, students and parents, to help improve how they respond to the emotional impact of the coronavirus pandemic. This is additional to?longer term work to improve support, including?the?new?mental health support teams that we are rolling out?across the country,?linked to schools and colleges. More information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/8m-programme-to-boost-pupil-and-teacher-wellbeing.

The department in collaboration with Public Health England and NHS England, delivered two webinars in July to provide further mental health support. The first webinar was for schools and colleges?to support?teachers in?promoting?and supporting?the?mental wellbeing?of children and young people?during the COVID-19 outbreak.?The second event was for?stakeholders?across the local system?to?support?strengthening of local partnerships?to?further?support?children and young people’s mental health as they return to school. We had around 10,000 sign up to the first webinar and around 1,300 to the second, and they are now available online for wider use.

We continue to working in partnership across education, health, the voluntary sector and local authorities to ensure that children and young people, parents and carers, and the professionals supporting them:

  • can access good-quality resources
  • are confident in supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing (as well as their own) and
  • ensure access to specialist services when they’re needed.

Access to mental health support is more important than ever during the COVID-19 outbreak. NHS mental services remain open. All NHS mental health trusts are providing 24/7 open access telephone lines to support people of all ages. The Government has also provided over £9 million to mental health charities to ensure they can continue to support people experiencing mental health challenges throughout the outbreak.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 01 Sep 2020
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening

"The Government did the right thing in lifting the cap on places at medical and dental schools, but there is still a practical problem. Constituents like a number of mine are still waiting to know whether they will get places this year or have to defer. That is because the …..."
Robert Neill - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 12 Nov 2018
Oral Answers to Questions

"We have excellent academy schools in Bromley, but we have been badly let down by the failings, unveiled by the Education and Skills Funding Agency, in the Education for the 21st Century trust. Will my right hon. Friend meet me urgently to discuss the findings of the ESFA report, and …..."
Robert Neill - View Speech

View all Robert Neill (Con - Bromley and Chislehurst) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 25 Jun 2018
Oral Answers to Questions

"The Department’s highly unusual application to the court for a closure order for the Darul Uloom School in Chislehurst has not only received wide publicity but raised concern among residents and, no doubt, parents. Will the Secretary of State update us on the position and meet me to discuss the …..."
Robert Neill - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 20 Mar 2017
Oral Answers to Questions

"4. What assessment she has made of the progress of the priority school building programme 2. ..."
Robert Neill - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 20 Mar 2017
Oral Answers to Questions

"The Marjorie McClure school in Chislehurst is a special school that deals with young people with some of the most profound and complex disabilities. It is a magnificent school, but every year it has to turn applicants away because it simply does not have the size to cope with the …..."
Robert Neill - View Speech

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