Table of Contents
- Eligibility and Application Process
- Training Details
- Identifying a Senior Mental Health Lead
- Existing Mental Health Leads
- Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs)
- Applying for the Grant
- Accessing DfE Quality Assured Training
- Payment Schedule
- Programme Evaluation
- Actions While Waiting to Apply for a Grant
The Department for Education (DfE) is offering a grant of £1,200 for eligible state-funded schools and colleges in England to train a senior mental health lead to develop and implement a whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing. This training is not compulsory, but it is part of the government’s commitment to offer this training to all eligible schools and colleges by 2025.
Eligibility and Application Process
State-funded schools and colleges in England, including those in receipt of Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) pre-16 revenue, high needs block, or 16 to 19 programme funding are eligible to apply for a grant. Independent settings with fee-paying pupils and students are not eligible for a grant but may access DfE quality assured training independently. Apprenticeship providers are also not eligible to claim a grant but they may access DfE quality assured training independently.
To apply for the grant, eligible settings must complete two forms. The first form is the initial application form to check eligibility and reserve the grant. The second form is the second stage of the application process, where evidence of having booked a DfE quality assured training course must be uploaded to receive the grant.
Training Details
The senior mental health lead training covers learning outcomes aligned with the principles of Public Health England (PHE) and DfE’s promoting children and young people’s emotional health and wellbeing. Research shows that a coordinated and evidence-informed approach to mental health and wellbeing leads to improved emotional health and wellbeing in children and young people, as well as greater readiness to learn. Schools and colleges that have taken this approach often report improved attendance, attention, behavior, and attainment.
Identifying a Senior Mental Health Lead
Schools and colleges have the flexibility to choose who is best placed to take on the role of senior mental health lead and undergo the training. This could be the headteacher, deputy headteacher, a member of the senior leadership team (SLT), or an appropriate member of staff who is empowered to develop and oversee the school or college’s approach to mental health and wellbeing.
Existing Mental Health Leads
Existing mental health leads or individuals who have undertaken other mental health and wellbeing training can still be nominated for this training. The grant must be used for DfE quality assured training to help develop or introduce a whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing.
Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs)
If a school or college is already working with an MHST, the nominated senior mental health lead can also be the MHST coordinator responsible for liaising with the team, or a different member of staff can take on the role.
Applying for the Grant
The application process for the grant consists of two stages. The first stage is to complete the initial application form to reserve the grant. This form checks eligibility and requires the applicant to make a series of declarations as described in the conditions of the grant. Once the form is submitted, the applicant will receive confirmation of successful application and instructions to book a DfE quality assured training course. Evidence of the course booking must be provided in the second stage of the application process to claim the grant.
The evidence submitted can be a scanned copy, screenshot, or photograph of the confirmation email or invoice from the training provider. The evidence must include the title of the training course, the start date, and the name of the training provider. If applying for a second grant, it is necessary to confirm that the previous senior mental health lead has left the setting.
Accessing DfE Quality Assured Training
The DfE provides an online tool to help assess specific learning needs and preferences and select the most suitable quality assured course for senior mental health lead training. The tool includes contact details for booking the selected course directly with a training provider.
Payment Schedule
Grants will be paid on a quarterly basis. Most settings will receive payments on the last working day of June 2023, September 2023, December 2023, and March 2024. Academies will receive payments on the first working day of July 2023, October 2023, January 2024, and April 2024.
Maintained schools and maintained alternative provision settings will receive payment via their local authority, while all other settings will receive payment directly. The grant payment will be made alongside regular funding and will appear as a separate line on the remittance.
Programme Evaluation
By applying for the grant, schools and colleges agree to participate in the programme evaluation. This involves providing feedback on the training course once completed. The feedback will help the DfE understand how the training is supporting schools and colleges in developing their approaches to mental health and how the offer can be improved.
The DfE may contact applicants by email to request their contributions to the evaluation. Participating schools and colleges will also be included on a publicly available list to enable health partners and local authorities to support the take-up of this offer and the development of effective whole school or college approaches to mental health and wellbeing.
Actions While Waiting to Apply for a Grant
While waiting to apply for a grant, school leaders are encouraged to take the following actions:
- Reflect on the school or college’s existing approach to mental health and wellbeing.
- Identify potential senior mental health leads within the school or college.
- Consider succession planning and career development plans to ensure the selected senior lead has sufficient time and capacity to meet the conditions of the grant.
- Assess specific learning needs and preferences to select the most suitable quality assured course using the online tool provided by the DfE.
- Contact the training provider directly to book the selected senior mental health lead training course.
By following these steps, schools and colleges can prepare for the grant application process and ensure a smooth transition into implementing a whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing.