From the  HOPE Service - At any time, pupils may need additional emotional support, beyond the normal pastoral care offered by teachers. Pupils who have suffered bereavement, trauma, family break-up etc or who are young carers may appreciate the opportunity to speak to an adult who is not directly involved with their education. Pupils experiencing emotional problems may find it difficult to engage with the education process and reach their potential. By providing emotional support and reducing barriers to learning, the educational outcome is maximised. The EA HOPE service is responsive to pupils’ needs, independent from, and yet appropriately supportive of, school’s established pastoral care provision. Delivering an effective counselling/therapy service requires a collaborative and co-operative partnership. The key parties to this partnership are the School’s Senior Management Team, the School Key Contact, the counselling/therapy provider, and the counsellor/therapist. This support is delivered by trained professional counsellors/therapists.​​