The importance of embedding social and emotional development in schools
For many children, school is the only place where any deficiencies in these abilities can be addressed. SEL is especially important for children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and other vulnerable groups, who, on average, have weaker SEL skills at all ages than their ‘better-off’ peers.¹
The COVID pandemic exacerbated the worrying trend of children struggling with their mental health and behavioural needs. Research showed that mental illness rose substantially from one in nine to one in six children² during the pandemic and as CYPMHS were serving less than half of children with a mental illness before the pandemic this needs to be a priority. School closures led not only to learning loss but meant children missed out on in-person interactions and support from peers, teachers, and other education professionals.
Developing children’s social and emotional skills within educational settings, alongside their academic skills is therefore critical.
¹ Improving Social and Emotional Learning in Primary Schools https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/guidance-reports/primary-sel
² NHS Digital. Mental health of children and young people in England, 2020: Wave 1 follow-up to the 2017 survey. https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mental-health-of-children-and-young-people-in-england/2020-wave-1-follow-up
³ Tennant et al., 2015; Kurtz et al., 2019
