The House of Commons education select committee had recommended in March that mental health and wellbeing assessments for school children should be introduced as part of measures to help schools catch up following lockdowns amid the health crisis.
MPs said that the assessments are needed as “pupils’ wellbeing and mental health have been one of the greatest challenges as schools return”.
However, in its response the government has rejected this recommendation saying “we do not believe that it is practical, nor necessary, for every child to undergo a clinical assessment of their mental health and wellbeing”.
Instead, the government says that schools are already expected by Ofsted to ensure pupils are “mentally healthy” and to provide pastoral support, which includes being “alert to factors that increase a child’s vulnerability, or potential vulnerability, such as mental ill health”.
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