FOI Request - Counselling Services in Educational Settings

Request 101003472763

a.  How many counsellors are employed or commissioned (FTE) by the local authority to support young people in the authority’s educational establishments in 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24?

b.  What is the ratio of counsellors to young people in the authority’s secondary, special and primary educational establishments in 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24?

c.  What is the council expenditure on providing counselling services in 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24?

d.  What are the current waiting times for pupils to access a counsellor in secondary, special and primary sectors?

e.  Does the Local Authority have plans to reduce or increase counselling provision in the future?

Response 16-02-2024 

a. & b. The information requested can be found here.

c. 2021-2022 - £270.000
2022-2023 - £270.000
2023-2024 - £277.000

d. As per a. & b. 

Moray Council is a fully inclusive authority – we do not operate stand-alone special schools. Each ASG has access to an enhanced provision within the primary school cluster and with the secondary school. The school counselling service is accessible to all children and young people ages 10 years and above – based on current Scottish Government funding model and reporting structure.

e. The counselling in schools budget is currently set at £277.000 for the next 3 years, with the option to extend this contract another 2 years, year on year.