Watch time 5:45 minutes | Supporting Pupils at Risk of Eating Disorders | Guidance for Schools & Educators
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that can affect children and young people when they use food control to manage difficult emotions or stress. Schools play a key role in noticing early changes, supporting emotional wellbeing, and helping pupils access care. Early recognition and supportive action can make a real difference to a pupil’s recovery and long-term wellbeing.
In this short, practical film, Dr Sian Williams provides evidence-based guidance for teachers, school staff, and pastoral teams on how to:
- Recognise early warning signs of eating disorders in pupils
- Understand how eating disorders can look different for each child
- Distinguish between typical dieting or faddy eating and disordered eating
- Foster a positive school culture around body image, language, and self-worth
- Promote body acceptance and emotional resilience through everyday teaching
- Create safe, inclusive, and supportive classroom environments
- Identify physical, emotional, and behavioural indicators of risk
- Understand vulnerability factors, including anxiety, perfectionism, trauma, or OCD
- Collaborate with safeguarding leads and healthcare professionals
- Make reasonable adjustments to support pupils while at school
Who this resource is for:
- Classroom teachers and teaching staff
- SENCOs and inclusion teams
- Pastoral and wellbeing leads
- Safeguarding teams and designated safeguarding leads (DSLs)
- School leaders focused on pupil mental health
Why this guidance matters:
Research shows that early awareness and supportive action from school staff can improve recovery outcomes for young people with eating disorders. You don’t need to diagnose or treat a disorder yourself – but your attentive, compassionate response may be the first step in helping a pupil access the care they need.
Watch this short film to learn practical strategies for spotting early signs, creating supportive school environments, and helping every pupil feel valued, understood, and safe.
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