Seema Malhotra MP spoke from the Labour frontbench in a debate on the School Attendance (Duties of Local Authorities and Propietors of Schools) Bill, welcoming the Bill but calling for a holistic plan, including action on children and young people’s mental health services:
It is also vital to address the mental health crisis that our children are facing. Mental ill health is a key barrier to learning and attendance, yet children are remaining on long child and adolescent mental health services waiting lists, unable to access the support they need. The waiting list for assessment is over two years in many instances. We would recruit thousands of new staff to bring down those waiting lists and put specialist mental health professionals in schools and community hubs, so that children can get the help they need, solving problems before they get worse.
