Where else you can go for help

There are a number of services in Devon who can offer support when a child or young person is experiencing difficulties attending school.

If your child is still struggling to attend school despite any strategies you’ve been trying at home, and any support from school or other agencies, it may be that some more targeted support is needed.

Education Wellbeing Team

The Education Wellbeing Team works closely with schools to support children and young people who might be medically absent to remain learning in their school or to help them to access learning and support reintegration back into school.

Age ranges supported: 5 to 16 years

Contact details:

• Email: medical-inclusion@devon.gov.uk
• Call: 01392 383000 and ask for the person you wish to speak to when prompted (details of who to contact for each area of Devon are on the service’s webpage).

Mental Health Support Team in school 

The Mental Health Support Team (MHST) work with children experiencing mild to moderate common mental health difficulties (for example, anxiety, low mood and behavioural difficulties). They don’t currently work with every school, but the service is being rolled out to more schools all the time – please check with your school to see if we are already working with them.

Age ranges supported: 5 to 18 years

Targeted Early Help

Rather than being a specific team, Early Help refers to the help offered by a range of agencies, working together to support a family’s specific needs. This may include support from communities, family and friends, voluntary and community service, universal groups, education and health.

Age ranges supported: 0 to 19 years

Contact details:

You can ask someone you’re already in contact with, such as a teacher or your GP, to refer you for Early Help, or you can request support yourself.

• Call our Customer Service Centre on 0345 155 1071. They are open Monday to Thursday 9-5pm and Friday 9-4pm.
• Email:
  • Northern Devon: Earlyhelpnorthsecure-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
  • Southern Devon: Earlyhelpsouthsecure-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
  • Mid and East Devon: Earlyhelpmideastsecure-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
  • Exeter: Earlyhelpexetersecure-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

There are a number of services in Devon who can offer support when a child or young person is experiencing difficulties attending school.

If your child is still struggling to attend school despite any strategies you’ve been trying at home, and any targeted support from school or other agencies, it may be that some more specialist support is needed.

Support services in Devon

Education Wellbeing Team

The Education Wellbeing Team works closely with schools to support children and young people who might be medically absent to remain learning in their school or to help them to access learning and support reintegration back into school.

Age ranges supported: 5 to 16 years

Contact details

• Call: 01392 383000 and ask for the person you wish to speak to when prompted (details of who to contact for each area of Devon are on the service’s webpage).
• Email: medical-inclusion@devon.gov.uk

Specialist help

This enhanced support from Early Help partners may include support from children’s social care and health settings such as specialist treatments.

Age ranges supported: 0 to 19 years

Children and Family Health Devon

Anyone aged under 18 who lives in Devon (excluding Plymouth) can get specialist care from  Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD)  To get help from CFHD you will need a referral – this often doesn’t have to be from a GP, see details of how to request help from CFHD.  

Age group supported: 0 to 18 years.

Contact details

• Call the Single Point of Access Team (SPA): 0330 0245 321
• Email: CFHD.DevonSPA@nhs.net
• Complete a referral form