From The Mag: Who’s Driving Change?
9th September 2026
Expanding Mental Health Support in Schools
A significant expansion of mental health provision means nearly six million children and young people can now access support directly within their school environment
CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared in gov.uk
According to reports, the government is on track to meet its manifesto promise that every school and college will have access to mental health support teams by the end of 2029. A significant expansion of school-based mental health provision means nearly six million children and young people across England can now access support directly within their school or college environment. This marks an increase of around 800,000 pupils compared with the previous year, with mental health support teams now operating in almost 11,800 schools and colleges.
The continued rollout of mental health support teams represents a shift towards embedding emotional wellbeing services within everyday school life. Nearly 80% of secondary schools now have access to dedicated mental health support, providing pupils with timely and practical help during a period of increasing pressure on young people.
Early indications suggest that the presence of mental health support teams is having a measurable impact on attendance and engagement. Nine in ten schools report improvements in pupil mental health and wellbeing, while seven in ten report improvements in attendance as a result of on-site support.
This is particularly significant given the well-documented link between persistent absence and long-term outcomes. Research shows that pupils who are persistently absent from school can go on to earn significantly less in adulthood, highlighting the wider economic and social impact of disengagement from education. A key driver behind the expansion of in-school mental health provision is the recognition of a reinforcing cycle between poor mental health and withdrawal from education.
Embedding support within schools is intended to interrupt this cycle at an earlier stage, ensuring pupils receive help when issues first emerge rather than when they reach crisis point.
School-based mental health support teams provide a combination of early intervention, targeted support and collaborative working with staff and families. Their work often includes one-to-one sessions, group-based interventions, workshops and guidance for school staff, all aimed at improving emotional wellbeing and resilience among pupils.
Schools report that this approach contributes to a more supportive and inclusive environment, where pupils feel better able to manage challenges both inside and outside of school.
Alongside the expansion of school-based services, there has also been continued investment in the wider mental health workforce, including the recruitment of thousands of additional mental health support workers since mid-2024.
As services become more embedded within school settings, there is a growing need to consider how space, staffing structures, safeguarding processes and resource allocation align to support these provisions effectively.
This also reinforces the importance of cross-functional working, where operational leadership plays a key role in enabling access to services that directly impact pupil outcomes, attendance and long-term attainment.
Holly is the managing editor of Education Executive, working closely with the team and contributors to bring fresh, varied and relevant content to our magazines, wraps and digital platforms. She joined the team in 2023, having spent several years working in publishing, following an earlier career in training, development and coaching across a range of sectors. Holly is passionate about championing school and trust business professionals and ensuring the role receives the platform and recognition it deserves.
