Schools aren’t receiving the support they need from external services, despite pressing need among pupils. That’s the conclusion of a new blog from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), which draws on responses from over 350 senior leaders and 800 classroom teachers to their June 2025 Teacher Voice Omnibus Survey.
The blog says schools continue to report high levels of additional needs among their pupils. Senior leaders estimate that nearly a quarter of pupils require extra support for general wellbeing, mental health, and to access learning and social and extracurricular activities.
However, at least seven in 10 teachers say they received less than a good level of support for their pupils across key support services including Local Authority education services, physical health services (e.g. healthcare professionals), external SEND team/specialist expertise and child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)/mental health services. Over half of classroom teachers report little or no help from CAMHS/Mental health services, more than for any other service: 67 per cent in primary and 55 per cent in secondary.
Consequently, many senior leaders report commissioning external counselling services to support pupils and teachers. For the 2024/25 school year, four fifths of secondary senior leaders reported commissioning external support for pupils, and more than three fifths did so for teaching staff. The percentages in primary settings were lower, with three in five commissioning external counselling for pupils, and half for teachers.
Commenting on the findings, Jenna Julius, Researcher Director at NFER, said: ‘Schools are taking significant steps to support pupils’ and staff, but they cannot shoulder the burden alone….As financial pressures on school budgets and wider public services stretch resources further, there is a real risk that children’s wellbeing and learning will be affected by the strain on support services.’
Full blog: https://tinyurl.com/49fxard7