Primary schools are one of the institutions where social workers can be employed in the school counseling service. Since primary school is an institution where social work is a secondary practice, its field of work and contribution are less visible. That is why I researched the role of social work in primary school in my master's thesis by using the method of professional literature review. I started with a historical overview and the development of school counseling services in Slovenia. I continued with how the school counseling services work today, what are their principles, goals and approaches, areas, and ways of working. I started my work with the field of school counseling service, as this is the part of the school where social work is located (social workers can be found here) and it is important to know and understand it so that we can think about and analyze the role of social work. Next, I focused on the role of social work in school - the areas of work, the way of working, the concepts that social work brings to the school space. I also addressed the topic of inequality in school, as an area that is specific to social work and should not be overlooked in school. I also mention the professional identity of social workers employed in schools, where I also write about the phenomenon of marginalization of social workers in school, based on the way they work and the poor recognition of their full potential. I conclude by trying to summarize and once again shed light on what social work in school can contribute. I also acknowledge the untapped potentials of social work in schools that I perceive myself. In conclusion, I note there is no precise definition of the role of social work in school. At the very end, I also give my suggestions for improving the current situation for primary schools as institutions, school counseling services, and, above all, for more space and transparency for social work in schools.
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