Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to support mindfulness for pupils in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in England.

We believe that it is for schools to decide what pastoral support to offer their pupils as they know them best. The department carried out a survey of school mental health provision (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-mental-health-in-schools-and-colleges) which found that 73% of schools offer sessions covering topics such as coping skills, problem-solving or mindfulness.

The survey also indicated that schools need more information about evidence-based approaches to supporting mental wellbeing that work in a school setting. In January 2017, my Rt hon. Friend, the Prime Minister announced a programme of randomised control trials of school-based interventions to support children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

One of the trials, which commenced in August 2017, will involve approaches to promoting wellbeing in primary and secondary schools, including exercises, routines, and mindfulness. We will consider how best to provide schools with the outcomes of these projects and a range of other piloting and trial activity.