Primary schools in need of counsellor supports

Homeless families seeking shelter, six-year-olds with knives at school, and parental disputes over access are among the issues for which primary schools want more psychological supports for pupils.

Family issues, including breakdown of parental relationships, were the most common areas around which children require support in primary schools, according to a survey by Dublin City University’s school of nursing and human sciences. However, only a third have access to school-based counselling.

More than 80% of principals mentioned those issues as among those their pupils present with, but around three quarters also had children trying to deal with anxiety, anger and behavioural issues.