Responding to a report by the children's commissioner highlighting soaring demand for children's mental health services, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“These stark figures underline how the government must go further and faster in ensuring children have easier access to early support and treatment when mental health concerns arise.

“Schools have seen more children struggling with their mental health and wellbeing in recent years and this can also affect their ability to attend school, focus and flourish.

“We have welcomed the government’s expansion of mental health support teams, which offer schools vital access to support for pupils

“While it is important their roll-out to all schools is completed as soon as possible, the joint health and social care and education committee inquiry into children’s mental health heard last week that they do not always have capacity to help children with more significant needs.

“It is important these teams have the sustained funding they need to be effective and that they are complemented by further investment in community mental health services.

“There is considerable ground for the government to make up after years in which investment failed to keep pace with demand and as this report shows, schools, families and other services are frequently faced with high thresholds for support and long waiting lists.”