Question reference: S5W-20288
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 29 November 2018
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Current status: Answered by John Swinney on 11 December 2018
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with its commitment in the Programme for Government to create around 350 counsellors in to ensure that every secondary school has counselling services; by what date this target will be met, and how much funding is being allocated toward this.
Answer
The creation of school counsellors in school education across Scotland is part of a package of measures to ensure that children and young people get the support that they need. We know that early experiences have lasting impacts for childhood and beyond so early intervention is crucial.
We have developed a suite of aims and principles for the delivery of this commitment and are taking forward discussions with key partners. To ensure that the commitment is met in full by September 2020 we are providing a package of around £27 million in the first two years of implementation. This will support the delivery and employment of counsellors across Scotland.