What are Educational Psychologists?

Educational Psychologists (EPs) have training in child development and how people think, feel, and learn. They also have experience of working with children and young people; many have been teachers. EPs use their expertise to carry out a wide range of evaluations and assessments of children and young people between 0-25 years of age experiencing difficulties. Through understanding a young person’s views, and by working with them and their parent/s and school, EPs help find solutions to the challenges being experienced, be they social, emotional or behavioural or due to a learning difference.

EPs help teachers and parents/carers to become more aware of the range of factors affecting wellbeing and learning, and then advise on how the needs of the child or young person could be met. This could be environmental changes, changes in teaching approaches, or through targeted support.

When should an EP become involved?

In Gloucestershire, there is a graduated pathway to support all children with additional needs, including the MyPlan, MyPlan+ and the Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). 

If you have any concerns about your child’s development, you should talk to their school in the first instance.  You will probably need to speak to the school’s Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO).  The SENCO will be able to discuss what support they can offer your child at school.

If your child is experiencing continued difficulty with their development, learning or wellbeing, your child’s school or you, may choose to seek advice from an EP; it may be because your child is not making the expected progress, despite support, or there is a disparity between their abilities. Or it could be that there is an emotional/behavioural difficulty causing a barrier to learning.

Local Authority schools and academies can buy in independent psychology services, in much the same way as they would buy in LA traded services. However, if a school is already buying in LA EP time, they will have a very limited budget so often cannot fund a parental requested assessment.

There may also be an occasion when your child’s school feel that they are already putting in place appropriate support, or they do not recognise that your child has a difficulty (for example, if they mask their needs).

An independent Educational Psychologist can help you in these situations, if you are able to fund the assessment.

Please read ‘Who to consult’ to check if an EP is the right professional to consult.

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