Question reference: S5W-30083
- Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 18 June 2020
-
Current status: Answered by John Swinney on 1 July 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will put in place to ensure that all pupils have access to a school counsellor, even when studying at home.
Answer
From September 2020, school counselling services will be available to all primary, secondary and special school pupils age 10 and over; and is part of a range of services that schools may have in place to support the mental, emotional and social wellbeing of children and young people.
Local authorities are best placed to determine the appropriate measures to put in place, taking into consideration local circumstances and what best meets the needs of the pupils.
Any counselling provision that was in place prior to the COVID-19 pandemic will be continuing and in a way that meets the needs of the individual child or young person and delivered in a way to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions.