AQW 9696/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 09/04/2024
Answered On Date: 22/04/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education when he will update teacher training in order to support delivery of the Emotional Health and Wellbeing Framework.

Answer:

It is important to clarify that I do not expect teachers to be health professionals or to deliver health services. However, all teaching staff should be mindful of pupil wellbeing and that all pupils are supported in school, to ensure they are learning and to prepare them for future life experiences and challenges.

There are a number of projects / services delivered under the joint Department of Education / Department of Health (DoH) Children and Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework, including the DoH-led Emotional Wellbeing Teams in Schools project and the Education Authority-led Being Well Doing Well programme. Both of these provide advice, information and resources to schools to help promote pupil emotional health and wellbeing, and the latter focuses on helping schools develop a whole school approach to emotional health and wellbeing.

Additionally, Initial Teacher Education (ITE) providers in Northern Ireland review their ITE programmes each year, to take into account any significant changes to the educational landscape and ensure that student teachers continue to receive appropriate development in important areas, such as the health and wellbeing of pupils. Departmental officials have previously shared the Framework with ITE providers for dissemination to student teachers and met with each of them to discuss the incorporation of the Framework into their ITE programmes.

The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment’s Wellbeing Hub also provides a range of curriculum-linked resources for teachers and shows how the Northern Ireland Curriculum promotes learning and developing skills that support pupil wellbeing and mental health.