Responding to research by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) revealing that 99% of head teachers surveyed in the UK felt mental health support services were inadequate, while 96% thought children's social care services were inadequate, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“School leaders are increasingly picking up the pieces in supporting pupils who are not getting the help they need with issues in their lives, with research suggesting austerity forced councils to halve early intervention support for children and families.

“Staff are on the frontline in helping children affected by everything from poverty and hunger to mental health issues, abuse and neglect, all of which may harm their wellbeing and education. They are often expected to be leaders, teachers, social workers and counsellors rolled into one.

“The government must do more to ensure school leaders have the resources to offer support, including funding access to counselling or creative therapy through art or play for all pupils who need it and speeding up the roll-out of mental health support teams in schools.

“But ministers must also invest much more in local government and community mental health services to ensure problems in children’s lives are tackled at an early stage before they escalate.”