Your AMHIE news round up for October 2025
Hello and welcome to our monthly round up of all the news, blogs and information we shared this October. We had hoped to be talking about the upcoming SEND White Paper but alas, it has now been delayed until the New Year, but don’t worry we will continue to update you on developments as and when they occur. So what’s happened in October? Well…The key themes for October 2025 centre on early intervention access, the impact of school behaviour policies, and the ongoing strategy for systemic support.
- AMHIE Conferences: Our refreshed AMHIE conferences have released the dates for 2026 and come up with a super early bird offer. It’s your absolute last chance before the price goes up to grab your tickets at 80% off: https://community.amhie.com/amhie-conferences/
- AMHIE Membership: Our membership offer to schools includes a variety of compliance-based training covering the most recent sector guidance and policy from the DfE. For more information on our offer visit: https://amhie.com/our-offer/membership/
- AMHIE Training: We have expanded our training offer to include even more compliance and policy based options for you and your team visit: https://community.amhie.com/training/
Webinars for only £10
Do you enjoy listening to the SENDcast? Do you wish there was a more formal way to access training? Do you want training that goes into more depth with the visuals to help you understand the area being covered? Would you like training you can share easily with the rest of the school? Then SENDcast Sessions is what you are looking for!
Time and budgets are being squeezed even tighter, which is why we’ve made each 1 hour session just £10! Join our AMHIE Chair for his SENDCast webinars covering SEMH and Mental Health in the Classroom, just visit: https://thesendcast.com/sendcast-sessions/
Coming in November:
| 25th November 2025 2-4pm Book the Live Course | Designated Governor of Mental Health Course A short training course to equip Governors with additional tools |
| 27th November 2025 Get your event Tickets | KALE Conference Join AMHIE in Kent at the conference for education leaders from every type and phase of school, college and setting. |
Alerts and Releases October 2025
- Bridget Phillipson confirms that all pupils will sit a mandatory reading test at age 13 to drive up reading standards: https://amhie.com/all-pupils-to-sit-a-mandatory-reading-test/
- Mind have released their 2025 ‘Big Mental Health Report’ – so what’s changed? https://amhie.com/minds-big-mental-health-report-2025/
- We summarise all of the new initiatives being bought forward in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper: https://amhie.com/post-16-education-skills-white-paper/
Our Blog October 2025
- This year, World Teachers’ Day celebrations will centre on the theme “Recasting teaching as a collaborative profession” https://amhie.com/world-teachers-day-2025/
- 10th October 2025 is World Mental Health Day and the theme is “Access to services: mental health in catastrophes and emergencies” https://amhie.com/world-mental-health-day-2025/
- ADHD Awareness Month Feature: Beyond the Buzzword: Navigating the True Pressures of ADHD in UK Classrooms https://amhie.com/adhd-awareness-month-2025/
New research October 2025
- A new study published this week links social media use with lowered cognitive function https://amhie.com/social-media-use-links-to-lowered-cognitive-performance/
- A new report from the Sutton Trust examines the socio-economic inequalities within the SEND system in England https://amhie.com/a-new-send-report-from-the-sutton-trust/
- School isolation rooms are damaging pupil wellbeing, new study warns: https://amhie.com/isolation-rooms-damaging-wellbeing/
Here is a summary of the major talking points for October 2025:
1. Call to Action: Early Intervention and Waiting Lists
- Mind’s “Care before Crisis” Report: The charity Mind published a significant report this month calling for an urgent expansion of early intervention mental health hubs.
- Key Concern: The report highlights that over half a million young people are currently on an NHS waiting list for support.
- The Ask: They are urging the government to scale up the existing network of Young Futures hubs to ensure one is available in every local authority area, emphasizing that these hubs provide accessible, non-referral-based support.
2. Behaviour, Exclusion, and Wellbeing Link
- Isolation Room Study: Research from the University of Manchester’s #BeeWell programme brought concerning data on school behaviour practices to the forefront this month.
- Key Finding: The study found that one in twelve secondary pupils report being placed in school isolation rooms (internal exclusion) at least once a week, often missing over eight hours of lessons.
- Mental Health Impact: Pupils placed in isolation reported poorer relationships with teachers and lower levels of mental wellbeing, disproportionately affecting those with SEND, those on Free School Meals, and LGBTQ+ students. This data directly links punitive behaviour practices to negative student mental health outcomes.
3. Ongoing Strategy and Delivery Updates
- Mental Health Support Team (MHST) Rollout: There is continued focus on the delivery of the government’s “Plan for Change.” It was highlighted that the rollout of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) is progressing, aiming to provide early intervention to pupils with mild to moderate needs in a larger proportion of schools.
- Designated Leads and Whole School Approach: The strategy continues to push for a designated Mental Health Lead in every school and college by 2025, a role intended to oversee and embed a “whole school approach” to wellbeing.
4. Contextual Overlaps (ADHD Awareness Month)
- ADHD Awareness: As October is ADHD Awareness Month, your specific area of focus—the barriers facing children with ADHD—is timely. The discussions around behaviour, the pressure on teachers, and the need for targeted training (as detailed in your evidence) align closely with the wider systemic calls for better early intervention and less punitive behaviour policies.
- World Mental Health Day (October 10th): This day served as a focal point for awareness, with the theme often linking to the impact of global crises and the need for accessible care, which reflects the wider context of stress on young people.
In summary, October 2025 has been marked by charities demanding immediate action on waiting lists, new research critiquing exclusionary behaviour policies, and the ongoing monitoring of the government’s MHST and whole-school wellbeing strategy.