Agenda item

To consider and discuss a report from the Head of Education Services which provides an overview of how schools are implementing Welsh Government’s statutory framework on ‘embedding a whole-school approach’ to emotional and mental well-being (copy enclosed).

10.45 am – 11.15am

The Lead Member for Education, Children and Families introduced the report (previously circulated) on whole school approach to emotional and mental well-being. She stressed the importance of nurturing the well-being of pupils in Denbighshire. The approach had changed to include partners that work with children, and as a result a number of interventions and programmes had taken place in schools. The financial landscape did cause concern and worry, many of the interventions in schools were seen as additional facilities and may be affected by future funding decisions.

The Head of Education stressed the importance of well-being, it was present in everything schools and education conducted on a daily basis. Members heard that a Whole School Approach Group met half termly with partners to develop specific training schools felt would be beneficial to staff and the school pupils. The importance of supporting the well-being of children was stressed following the pandemic it was critical the authority enabled and supported schools to pass that support on to pupils and to wider families. 

The multi-agency inspection that took place in February 2023 highlighted a lot of positive work that Denbighshire and partners currently did in supporting schools.

The Head of Education introduced Rona Jones, Head Teacher of Ysgol Emmanuel, who provided the Committee with a school perspective of work being done to enhance support for pupils in schools.

The Chair thanked all the officers and guests for attending the meeting.

He opened the discussion and invited members to raise any concerns or questions they had. The following points were discussed in greater detail:

·         Partnership working was essential. Not all issues of well-being in society could be resolved in schools in isolation. Working together with Public Health Wales (PHW), Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Healthy Schools Scheme along with other partners was vital. The intention of the whole school approach was to encourage everyone to work together, on the same agenda to support all. The Whole School Approach Working Group involved all partners to make best use of the available resources and avoid duplication and silo working.

·         There was a counselling service currently for 4-18 year olds which delivered a service using a variety of different methods. They offered a face to face service or remotely if required. The majority of the young people they worked with were 11-18 years old as the provision of a counselling service for 11 – 18 year olds was a statutory requirement. About 12% of pupils were from primary school age, the counsellor offering the service to the young children were trained in therapeutic play. The service would like to expand more at the primary level but would rely on the availability of funding through the grants the Service received.

·         Members heard Ysgol Emmanuel had been the first school in Denbighshire to be awarded the Trauma Informed School accrediation. Rona Jones provided members with detail of the work that had been undertaken at the school to support children. A number of children at the school had needed the provision. The trauma informed approach was about protecting and regulating ensuring the children felt safe, putting interventions in place to support the emotions children express. Funding had allowed the school to employ additional teaching assistants trained in therapeutic services and a play therapist two days a week. Funding was a concern for the service to be able to continue as it was, let alone expand. As a result of the service the school had observed lower exclusion rates. Each member of the school staff had been on board from the start and had been instrumental in making the changes happen.

·         Identification of individuals need was key. Staff had to ensure the best value for money from the interventions in place. Members heard that staff undertook Pupils Attitude to Self and School (PASS) Surveys which provided information from the pupils. It allowed the collection of data and information to aid decisions on what was needed in schools. On occasions referrals were made to the school to help support children and families to offer support that was needed during the school day. Close working with partners and agencies to support children was beneficial.

·         Staff at schools would support children with or without any diagnosis. Staff were aware of waiting lists but continued to support families in ways that would aid the child’s needs.      

·         It was hoped that the changes and interventions insitgated in schools would have a positive impact on society and the community in the coming years. Ensuring young people had the skills and mental strength to thrive in the future was one of the reasons for implementing the changes.

·         In the opinion of the Lead Member the health and wellbeing element of the curriculum for Wales was vital and essential. It would have a positive impact on pupils in schools and provide support for those that needed it.

·         Capacity to support and deliver the services was challenging. Funding, time and capacity was a concern. Staff were at times going above and beyond to support individuals during difficult times.  It was stressed Education staff and schools did the best for young people in Denbighshire.

·         It was noted that emotional well-being support services were not at present statutory services, members asked if that was an area that could become statutory. The Lead Member stressed that any such decision lay with the Welsh Government, although local education authorities were regularly lobbying the Government on the value of this area of schooling and the differences it had made to individual pupils’ educational journeys. It was hoped that in the future more weight may be given to this area. 

The Chair thanked all present for their contribution to the discussion.

The Committee registered their concerns about the potential impact of diminishing financial resources on the long-term sustainability and development of this extremely valuable non-statutory provision within the Council’s schools.  At the conclusion of a comprehensive discussion members’:

Resolved:  subject to the above observations –

(i)   to acknowledge the work undertaken to date in implementing the Welsh Government’s statutory framework on ‘embedding a whole-school approach’ to emotional and mental well-being across the county’s schools; and

(ii) to support the efforts of all partners involved in developing appropriate levels of support across all of the county’s schools.