Agenda item

Briefing Note of the Social, Emotional and Mental Health in Schools Task and Finish Group

Further to minute 28/17 the Scrutiny Board considered a briefing note of the Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) in Schools Task and Finish Group which was established on 30^th November, 2017.

The briefing note recognised Members had reported concerns about the help available to young people and wanted to support Headteachers across the City who were desperate to see a better service to support pupils with SEMH issues, as without it, vulnerable young people risk not achieving their full potential. 

Information on exclusions from Coventry schools was considered. The data showed that the age range of children being excluded was widening, to include key stage 1 (5 and 6 year olds) and violence was increasingly cited as a reason for exclusion.  Whilst concerned that exclusions were steadily rising within the City, Members noted that Coventry’s exclusion rates remained below the national average.  The exclusion data included a range of case studies, which listed the number of services the young people had been involved with, before they were excluded, as well as the range of interventions schools and partner agencies had put in place before the exclusion occurred.

The data highlighted an inconsistency in the support being offered to young people in need by schools.  It acknowledged that there may be many reasons for this differential practice including financial limitations, impact on attendance and academic progress measures and culture.  It was noted that Coventry City Council in partnership with Headteachers had established fair access panels at both primary and secondary phase, which provided a peer support and challenge forum, aimed at negating the need to permanently exclude a child.

The Council’s Children Missing Education Team (CME) had been established to offer an additional layer of support.  The team, alongside other support services encouraged schools to exhaust all options before determining that a child should be permanently excluded.  This was because an exclusion could have a lasting impact on a young person.  A report published in 2017 showed that exclusions could amplify pupils’ psychological distress and encourage behaviour it intended to punish.

The Task and Finish Group met with representatives from Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust (NHS), who were responsible for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Coventry.  They heard about the application (an app) which was being rolled out, called the Dimensions Tool. This tool was designed to help parents and schools identify needs early and signpost to the support available, including self-help for young people who may not yet reach the threshold for CAMHS support.

The Task and Finish Group decided to undertake visits to schools to understand the challenges they faced in an environment with diminishing financial resources and see some examples of practice in the City first hand.  Members visited two schools who were recognised for their positive focus on supporting pupils with SEMH.  They were looking for examples of good practice, which might be shared and encouraged elsewhere in the City.  It was emphasised that these schools were not alone in demonstrating exemplary practice.  They visited Spon Gate Primary and Lyng Hall Secondary School.  The visits highlighted a number of similarities between the two schools in how they support, not just pupils, but also their families.  Whilst the tools, techniques and strategies were not the same, the ethos of both schools was similar.  Both schools were led by established Headteachers who drive the vision for the school, and had the support of the staff behind them.  Both schools also use the resources available to them innovatively to fund additional support staff with expertise in supporting pupils with challenges and their families.  They sought to understand and respond to the reasons for the young person’s behaviour and to provide support wherever possible, rather than react to the behaviour. It was noted that both Headteachers were aware of the impact being ‘inclusive’ had on external progress measures and the pressure that placed on schools.

Therefore, the Task and Finish group recommended that a celebratory event was held to showcase the fantastic work Primary and Secondary schools were undertaking and use this event to facilitate some peer learning opportunities for schools who may like to further develop their provision for pupils with SEMH needs.  Hosting a combined event for the City’s schools would also enable schools to look at ways to support the successful transition of pupils as they move from Primary to Secondary school.

The Board thanked and commended all those who had contributed to the work of the Task and Finish Group including the Chair, members of the group, officers and schools.

The Board were keen that the approach become consistent and were impressed with the Dimensions Tool.

Officers reported on the new project called Thrive which would provide training for teachers on mental health. 

Members asked about evaluating progress with SEMH in schools and officers responded that there were a number of ways of measuring wellbeing and that work was underway with Warwick University to establish a way to measure emotional resilience.  Early intervention with improving emotional resilience was important in the aim of reducing CAMHS waiting lists.

Members recognised observing the positive contributions Thrive was making and agreed that prevention was better than needing to find a cure.

Officers agreed to provide a briefing note on Thrive for those who had not experienced it.  Members asked about the high levels of children on the Autistic Spectrum in the City.  Officers responded regarding working in partnership with health to holistically respond to the challenges of multi-disciplinary diagnosis.

The Board would consider a report from Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust (NHS) in the New Year to address concerns the Board had regularly highlighted.   

RESOLVED that

1.  The Board formally thank the Task and Finish Group, Cllr Kershaw for Chairing the Task and Finish Group and all those who had contributed, including the schools visited.

2.  A further discussion to take place with the Task and Finish Chair, Cabinet Member and officers to establish the best way to celebrate and share the positive work taking place