Earlier this week, our chief executive, Simon Blake, spoke alongside the new Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills, Sir Martyn Oliver. This session was the first training delivered since the announcement that routine school and further education (FE) inspections would be paused until 22 January 2024. The delay is to ensure that school and FE inspectors could attend this training session before leading an inspection. MHFA England will now lead a rolling programme of training for all inspectors, expected to last until March 2024.
Speaking about the webinar and training, Simon said:
“During the webinar, I was pleased to hear Sir Martyn and other senior Ofsted leaders talk about the mental health awareness training being part of a much bigger focus on tackling the root causes of stressors within the inspection process, and importantly focusing on the realities facing those working in education and children’s services.
"To be part of this important movement to support Inspectors and by default, head teachers, teachers, parents, carers, and students, is hugely important to us. We believe that everyone should be able to talk freely about mental health and get support when they need it. Our training and guidance gives people the skills to spot the signs of distress, the confidence to start a conversation, and the knowledge to support their own mental health. We know that the right support can make a lasting difference. To workplaces. To individuals. And to society.
"Everyone - Inspectors, senior leaders, and teachers - brings different lived experiences, expertise, and a passion for quality to the table. Together we should create a world where everyone is an equal partner in a deeply collaborative and human inspection process which is fair, robust, and contributes to improving education outcomes. That is the reality we can start building together. Mental health awareness training is the start, and it can, and will, make a difference as part of a bigger process of change.
"MHFA England is proud to be working with Ofsted on this important journey. We look forward to helping to build the foundations across the sector where everyone’s mental health matters.”
For more information on how MHFA England can support your organisation’s mental health and wellbeing training, contact workplace@mhfaengland.org.
