Ms Anne Tansey:

As schools have reopened and right through this period, NEPS has supported the well-being of school communities. NEPS has developed a range of resources that have been made available to schools to guide them in supporting well-being at this time. The approach that has been taken is in line with the HSE's advice around a psychosocial, tiered approach to supporting well-being. We know that strong universal approaches that promote calm, a sense of efficacy and a sense of psychological and physical safety within school communities are really important for most students. We recognise that there are children and young people who may need more support and we are advising and supporting schools on that.

On specific programmes that are available to support children and young people in managing anxiety or managing their mental health at this time, the approach of NEPS is to build school capability to support these children and young people. We provide programmes such as the friends programme, which is a resilience-building and anxiety-reducing and prevention programme. We train teachers to provide this programme of support to children within their schools. It is provided to all children. It builds the core skills and competencies of children to manage worry, stress and anxiety. It takes a cognitive behavioural approach and children build their skills through it.

NEPS is developing a range of workshops on the promotion of well-being resilience which will include a trauma-informed approach. These workshops are currently being piloted in our schools and they are due to be rolled out to support teachers, special education teachers, SNAs and school leaders from next September in the Department.