Speaking on World Mental Health Day - and responding to the NSPCC's call for mental health support teams to be rolled out across all schools, after figures revealed that mental and emotional wellbeing was the top reason for children seeking help from the charity's Childline service last year, Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“These findings echo what school leaders are telling us about the growing crisis in children’s mental health. There are few higher priorities in education right now.

“We want to see the government to go further and faster, not only in extending children’s access to school mental health support teams much more quickly, but also by funding counselling or creative therapies in all schools and easy-access support hubs in every community which offer early help to children who are struggling.

“While the government’s ambition of extending coverage to 50% of education settings is welcome, it is only a small step forward and still means many pupils will be in schools without access to this help. We agree that far greater urgency, ambition and investment is needed from the government.”