Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “Support for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing is more important now than ever after the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and its resulting lockdowns, with record numbers needing help.

“We know that schools value the vital support that in-school counselling services can provide, however, this is another area where schools have to use their own scant resources to fund support services that are not provided for in their budgets.

“With school budgets hit hard by long-term government under investment, and further impacted by Coronavirus costs, many schools are having to make cuts. A recent NAHT survey showed that almost a third (31%) of school leaders had to make cuts to balance their budgets last year, with one head specifically saying they had been forced to stop using the Place2Be counselling service in their school.

“Independent analysis from Pro Bono Economics suggests that every pound invested in counselling in primary school results in a £6.20 saving in the future, as long-term educational, behavioural, mental health and employment outcomes are improved. It is therefore only logical that one of the best ways the government can help children and young people, as well as saving money in the long term, is to invest in counselling services – not just for secondary schools, but for primaries too.”