A dozen counsellors will be employed at schools to look after the mental health of north-east pupils.
The appointments, which were agreed during a meeting of Aberdeenshire Council’s education committee yesterday, have been made possible by Scottish Government funding of £574,000 for the 2019/20 term and £774,000 per year for the following three school sessions.
Principal educational psychologist, Carron Douglas, explained that due to a “national shortfall” some of the counsellors would be trainees.
The committee agreed to employ the 12 new counsellors, and a senior practitioner, after hearing that mental health was “one of biggest challenges” facing pupils in the region.
Ms Douglas added that the counsellors would be spread across schools to avoid a “postcode lottery” situation where only some young people will receive help.
North Kincardine councillor, Alison Evison, praised the “early intervention” approach in helping pupils.
But East Garioch member, Martin Ford, said education leaders should “ask ourselves why we have such an increase in young people seeking help for mental health?”
The committee hoped that the new support could potentially reduce the number of young people excluded from schools.
And during the same meeting, a revised policy to better reflect modern laws and attitudes on excluding pupils was also agreed on.
Councillors acknowledged the importance of keeping pupils at school where necessary, amid growing concerns about how being separated from their peers can “marginalise” children.
Laurence Findlay, director of education and children’s services, said: “This draft policy sets us on a positive direction.”
The committee also approved a new strategy to make schools more accessible.
Councillors had raised concerns about a number of north-east schools lacking wheelchair access, particularly in the Banff and Buchan area.
West Garioch councillor, Victoria Harper, added that those in Mintlaw were “quite shocking” in lacking provision.
When Dianne Beagrie, Peterhead North and Rattray councillor, questioned why so many older schools hadn’t been updated already, she was told that “budgetary constraints” had hampered the process, as well as regulations from when the buildings were created.
The committee’s vice-chairwoman, Rosemary Bruce, said: “We are fully committed to meeting the needs of every child and this new strategy is one example of how we are investing in inclusion.”
