Lack of places for pupils with mental health needs highlighted by DfE research

Headteachers warn there are not enough alternative provision places for pupils with mental health needs and behavioural issues
12th March 2018, 2:27pm

Share

Lack of places for pupils with mental health needs highlighted by DfE research

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/lack-places-pupils-mental-health-needs-highlighted-dfe-research
Thumbnail

The vast majority of school leaders say that there are insufficient places in alternative provision for pupils with mental health needs.

And three-quarters say that there are not enough alternative-provision places for pupils with behavioural issues.

Almost 2,000 teachers, including 1,017 senior leaders, were asked the Department for Education-commissioned questions for the Teacher Voice survey, carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) organisation.

The results show that 84 per cent of school leaders say that there are not enough places in alternative provision for pupils with mental health needs.

Among secondary leaders, this proportion rises to 90 per cent and it is 77 per cent for primary leaders.

‘More and more of a problem’

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said that this strength of opinion came as little surprise to him. “This will be getting to be more and more of a problem, as we see reductions in other services that might have been on hand,” he said.

“For example, educational psychologists attached to the local authority, who perhaps now aren’t available to schools.”

In the Teacher Voice survey, 74 per cent of all school leaders report insufficient places in alternative provision for pupils with behavioural issues. The percentage was the same whether leaders were talking about pupils with or without special educational needs and disabilities.

A much smaller percentage - 25 per cent - say that there are not enough places for pupils with physical health needs.

Headteachers and leaders were also asked whether they felt there were enough quality places available for pupils in alternative provision.

Just over three-quarters - 78 per cent - of senior leaders say that there are insufficient quality places for pupils with mental health needs.

And two-thirds - 67 per cent - say that there are insufficient quality places for pupils with behavioural issues.

‘Limited room for manouevre’

Class sizes are going up in secondary,” Mr Barton said. “Therefore, your room for manouevre as a headteacher is becoming more limited. What do you do with that child, even if you’re committed to inclusion, if other children’s learning is being disrupted? 

“There’s a desperate need, I’d say, for pupil-referral units and alternative provision, in the interests of these children.”

The Department for Education has been contacted for comment. 

Want to keep up with the latest education news and opinion? Follow Tes on Twitter and like Tes on Facebook

 

Want to keep reading for free?

Register with Tes and you can read two free articles every month plus you'll have access to our range of award-winning newsletters.

Keep reading for just £1 per month

You've reached your limit of free articles this month. Subscribe for £1 per month for three months and get:

  • Unlimited access to all Tes magazine content
  • Exclusive subscriber-only stories
  • Award-winning email newsletters
Recent
Most read
Most shared