Responding to the Liberal Democrat pledge to ensure every school has a mental health professional, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“All children and young people deserve timely and high-quality support for their mental health when they need it; accessing help cannot be a postcode lottery.

“Funding for these vital services simply hasn’t kept pace with demand, meaning less capacity, long waiting lists and higher thresholds for support.

“The policy put forward by the Liberal Democrats to provide a mental health professional in every school would help improve access to early help for children and young people.”