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<p>The Department recognises that school based counselling by well-qualified practitioners
can play an effective role as part of a whole school approach to supporting mental
health and wellbeing. It is for schools to decide what support to put in place based
on the particular needs of their pupils.</p><p>The Department has not made a specific
assessment of the adequacy of counselling services provided in schools. However, the
Department's nationally representative survey of school provision published in 2017
indicated that 61% of schools offer counselling services, with 84% of secondary schools
providing their pupils with access to counselling support.[1] To support schools to
provide counselling, the Government has provided advice on how to deliver high quality
school-based counselling.[2]</p><p>The Government is introducing new mental health
support teams to provide additional support linked to groups of schools and colleges.
The first teams are being set up in 25 areas of the country this year. The aim is
for these teams to work together with existing provision, including school-based counselling.
The Government will evaluate their introduction to ensure that they do not displace
existing provision.</p><p> </p><p>[1] <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/634726/Supporting_Mental-Health_survey_report.pdf"
target="_blank">Supporting Mental Health in Schools and Colleges (2017)</a>.</p><p>[2]
<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/counselling-in-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/counselling-in-schools</a>.</p>
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