When 1.6 million pupils are persistently absent from school, it’s not a compliance problem – it’s a design failure. Psychologists call for reform!
“We are HCPC registered psychologists working with children, young people and families across the UK. We are witnessing an unprecedented mental health crisis that demands immediate government action.”
The Crisis in Numbers:
- 1 in 5 children experiencing mental health difficulties;
- Over 50% of cases directly linked to school experiences;
- 77.8% increase in EHCPs for Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs;
- 1.6 million pupils persistently absent from school.
They are concerned that current government proposals for School Attendance Orders and parent fines are blunt instruments that ignore the root causes. When children are struggling with their mental health because of school experiences, punitive measures will only make the crisis worse! Psychologists are calling for:
- Reassessment of high-stakes testing in primary schools given evidence of harm to children’s mental health;
- Implementation of developmentally appropriate teaching methods based on child development research;
- Transformation of punitive behaviour policies to evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches;
- Reform of Ofsted frameworks to meaningfully include wellbeing and inclusion measures;
- Urgent meeting with clinical psychologists to discuss evidence-based solutions for our children.
Get Involved!
If you are an HCPC registered psychologist, please sign the petition here.
There is a also a similar open letter from a group of Educational Psychologists, who say that a drastically different approach to the SEND crisis is needed. You can find it here, along with a letter temple which you can send to your MP.