THE NEED FOR OUR WORK
“Because of the Bus, I now come to school regularly.”
AT THE BUS STUDENT
WHY OUR WORK IS NEEDED
There is a crisis in children's mental health. One in five children and young people have a probable mental health disorder and many struggle to engage in school (NHS Digital, Nov 2023). The services which could provide support are overwhelmed, with long waits and high thresholds for access to Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). There is little school-based provision due to lack of resource and training, and the need is enormous.
Children’s poor mental health is having a direct impact on their education. Over 170,000 pupils were classed as severely absent (missing more than half of a school term in a year) in 2023 (Fisher Family Trust).
The children and young people we support face daily challenges to their emotional wellbeing. AT The Bus offers a school based, cost-effective, early intervention programme which integrates with school pastoral and SEND provision and prevents children’s needs from escalating.
Teachers tell us this has real value to the wider school:
“As a result of AT The Bus, a significant number of our most vulnerable students are having a better experience in school, as reflected by higher levels of attendance and punctuality, a reduction in consequences through our Behaviour For Learning system and increased academic progress."
Chris Price, Headteacher, The Cherwell School, Oxford
"When I know it’s a bus day I’m happy to come to school. I say to myself ‘yes it’s a bus day’. I get up early on a bus day."
AT The Bus student
