New NICE quality standards

Article source: The Adopt South West Co-Production Group

New NICE quality standards: Social, Emotional and Mental Wellbeing in Primary and Secondary Education

These new standards are a big jump forwards in giving parents support in meetings and in compiling funding requests where evidence is required to support need. You might say that the reports we crawl around to find from professionals should be enough, but the reality of this is sadly often not the case.

However, here NICE is providing a bar that needs to be jumped over by schools and supporting children with special educational needs (SEND) services.

There are a number of references to children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences and trauma.

There is also reference to the impact of COVID-19 on children’s social, emotional and mental health.

This could be very helpful if you are struggling to get mental health support, where your child struggles socially, where your child might need a peer buddy, support around transitioning to school, moving schools or those children with disability who need carefully tailored support.

This could also could be useful in an appeal or when applying or reviewing an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

The standards state:

Schools and other education settings are places where children and young people should be supported to develop personally and learn social, emotional and mental skills in their lessons and in activities outside the classroom. When students feel happy, safe and secure in their life, they are less likely to have problems with their health and behaviour.

We want this guideline to make a difference to children and young people by making sure:

  • schools and other education settings value social, emotional and mental wellbeing in all they do
  • students who may have problems with family or friends, or are finding it hard to cope with their feelings, are identified and offered help if needed
  • any support suits each child or young person’s background and needs, such as their culture and how they communicate
  • students are given help to cope with important changes happening in their lives, such as moving school or having an illness
  • parents, carers and students are involved in discussions about how to improve wellbeing in the school

Read the guidance

NICE guideline [NG223]