Primary group

TalkingZone | Primary School Counselling Service

Thanks to additional funding from Newport City Council, Talking Zone has expanded its service to include free counselling for parents, & legal guardians or carers also, Parental consultations. For further information please Contact us 

Unfortunately, primary school referrals for nursery to YR 4 are temporarily closed, while we prioritise existing primary pupils receiving counselling and those who are on the waiting lists.

Parents and teachers of Yr 5 & Yr6 pupils can still refer below. This is an interim measure, which we will provide an updated on this website and to schools as soon as we are able to resume intake of referrals for Nursery to Year 4 pupils.

Please find below further-help resources.


TalkingZone provides access to a counsellor in all Primary and Additional Learning Needs (ALN) schools in Newport, supporting children and young people who are experiencing emotional distress. Counselling is a confidential activity and content of sessions remains between the child/young person and counsellor, unless it becomes apparent the they are at risk of significant harm.

However, the counsellor will encourage parents or legal guardians to be involved in the process from the outset. An opportunity will be provided at the start of counselling for the parent or guardian to meet with the counsellor. This provides a space for discussion regarding the challenges the child is experiencing and allows the counsellor to gain a greater understanding about how to approach the work with the child. There will also be a chance to meet with the counsellor at the end of the counselling to receive consultation about how to support the child after the intervention has ended.


We all have times when it feels hard to talk to those closest to us about things which are bothering us. Often this can be because we don’t want to worry them or we are afraid of what they might say. The counsellor will listen to the child carefully, not judging them, but look to help them understand what might be bothering them and to find ways to cope with their challenges or emotions.

Types of problems that counselling can be used for may include:

  • Family difficulties
  • Relationships
  • Loss and bereavement
  • Bullying
  • Lack of confidence
  • Anger
  • Behaviour issues
  • Self-harm
  • Anxiety
  • Low mood

  • A regular space and time to talk about worries or difficulties.
  • Helps children to look at how they might want things to be different, by talking and using a range of activities.
  • Helps the child make sense of their emotions and builds self-esteem.

  • Counsellors will treat the child in a caring, warm manner and be respectful to their individual needs.

The following is a list of useful service documents:

  • The Parent Privacy Notice and Child Privacy Notice provides details on why we collect information from you and what we do with that information.
  • The Complaints Procedure details the process you can follow should there be any issues or concerns you need to raise relating to the service received from TalkingZone.