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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics

It’s not ‘grit’ that children lack, but proper support

UK primary school children playing in the playground
‘Children are resilient – but they are living in an increasingly complicated world of challenges and conflict.’ Photograph: lovethephoto/Alamy

Comments by the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, about children’s “grit” are a distraction from the huge missed opportunity in the government’s expansion of access to mental health support teams in schools (‘Grit’ no substitute for better mental health funding for pupils in England, say experts, 16 May).

Children are resilient – but they are living in an increasingly complicated world of challenges and conflict. They’re having to cope with the consequences of the Covid pandemic, the cost of living crisis, social media, and school, family and relationship pressures.

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