Teachers will step in to protect pupils’ mental health if parents ‘bicker occasionally’

Teachers are being trained to intervene when parents bicker too much over fears that it could damage children’s mental health.

They will be told how to spot signs of ‘parental conflict’ and ‘step in to support parents’ to ‘ensure children do not suffer’.

This could mean meeting parents of a troubled child and discussing issues they may be encountering at home. Parents can be directed to relationship counselling if necessary.

Others working closely with families in sectors such as policing, health and social care will also be given the training by councils in England.

It comes with the announcement of an extra £11million today for the Reducing Parental Conflict (RPC) programme, backed by Baroness Stedman-Scott, minister with the Department for Work and Pensions.

She said: ‘Arguments and occasional bickering might seem harmless but when this kind of conflict is continually aggressive and left unaddressed, it can cause real unhappiness and harm children’s life chances.

‘That’s why we’re investing millions into helping parents recognise and address potentially harmful conflict so more children can grow up in happier homes.’

The ‘bespoke relationship support’ scheme was launched in 2018, with £47million already allocated to it. The new cash will help the work to continue and enable ‘innovative new projects’.

According to the DWP website, RPC is ‘aimed at conflict below the threshold of domestic abuse’.

It says examples of such conflict can include ‘aggression, silence, lack of respect, emotional control, lack of resolution’.

The announcement comes alongside a Department for Education ‘state of the nation’ report on the mental health of children.

It found while most children have a good relationship with their parents, those who do not are more likely to have a mental health problem.