Months 1–3
Settle and learn
Understand the school, be visible, set up safe basics.
- Complete the 30-day checklist
- Learn the crisis and referral protocol
- Meet every teacher team
- Start your records
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First-Year School Counsellor Starter Guide
Your first-year map
In shortA school counsellor’s first year works best in four stages: Settle and learn (months 1–3), Build (months 4–6), Refine (months 7–9) and Review and plan (months 10–12). Spend the early months listening and setting up safe basics, not launching programmes.
A first year goes better when you spend the early months listening and setting up, not launching programmes. Stretch or shrink each stage to fit your school calendar.
Months 4–6
Build
Start regular work with students, teachers and parents.
- Open regular counselling slots
- One SEL activity per class group
- Start a referral contact list
- Begin monthly supervision
Months 7–9
Refine
Do fewer things, better.
- Keep what works, drop what does not
- Run a small group if trained
- Revisit your skills self-check
- Ask teachers what has helped
Months 10–12
Review and plan
Learn from the year.
- Compile your counselling stats
- Complete and submit records and reports
- Plan next year with the principal (see the year-end review)
- Check in on your own wellbeing again
Counseld Starter Toolkit · Not a substitute for supervision or school policy.
Get the printable guide
All 13 pages as a print-ready PDF, with the checklist, self-check and year-end review to fill in. Free.