Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish a Department for Education Mental Health Action Group.

My hon. Friend, the Minister for Children and Families, and my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Universities, have convened a mental health in education action group to look at the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people and staff in nurseries, schools, colleges, and universities. It will consider how to support mental wellbeing while children and young people are being taught remotely, as they return to education settings and with transitions between education settings in September 2021.

In the first instance, Ministers will engage with health experts to bring together the evidence of impact on children and young people to identify the existing range of support and make sure it is easy to access and has the greatest possible impact. They will also engage with education stakeholders, including staff and leadership unions, to ensure that we understand the issues that are facing staff in nurseries, schools, colleges and universities and how those can be supported in the coming months. Ministers will also work with the existing higher education task force to ensure that the issues it is considering around mental health are reflected.