What do educational psychologists do?
Educational psychologists
work with children and young people, parents/carers and other professionals to bring about positive outcomes for children and young people by providing psychological advice on the child/young person’s social, emotional and learning needs.
Who are educational psychologists?
Educational psychologists have specialist knowledge and understanding of child development, how children and young people learn and organisational psychology. It takes a minimum of seven years of study, working with families, children and young people, and supervised practice to become a fully qualified educational psychologist. Educational psychologists also apply their knowledge and experience of organisational psychology to schools and other settings to help raise the attainment of children and young people.
All educational psychologists:
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have studied psychology at degree level followed by specialist postgraduate professional training in educational psychology at Doctoral level (since 2005);
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are registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC);
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are recognised by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
Who do educational psychologists work with?
Educational psychologists work with children and young people 0 – 19yrs with complex special educational needs and disabilities, those who are emotionally vulnerable and those with complex and challenging behaviours.
Educational psychologists provide advice, training and support for teachers, teaching assistants and other professionals who work with children and young people.
They also contribute to the statutory assessment process and annual reviews for those children and young people who have a statement of Special Educational Needs.
How can an educational psychologist help my child?
They will meet with you, your child's teachers and any other professionals involved to discuss your child's needs. They will work closely in partnership with you and your child's school to plan a programme of support for your child. As necessary, they may undertake an observation of your child at school, or work directly with your child to gain further insight into your child’s needs.
What happens when an educational psychologist becomes involved with my child?
Your child's school may decide, in discussion with you, that your child would benefit from help from an educational psychologist.
The Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) at your child's school will contact the educational psychologist. They will provide the educational psychologist with information about how your child is progressing in school.
This will include details of strengths and successes, as well as information about what your child is having trouble with and approaches that have been tried to help overcome their problems.
A date will be arranged for the educational psychologist to talk to school staff about your child. The school will make sure you are kept informed and give you the opportunity to be involved in this meeting.
The aim of this meeting is to try and find a practical way forward to support your child. This might include:
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gathering more information to get a better idea of your child's problems
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planning and trying out different approaches
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building on and developing any approach that has already led to some progress
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asking for advice from other professionals
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arranging a more detailed assessment by the educational psychologist
Whatever the outcomes of the discussion, the school will keep records of any action planned to help your child. Copies of the educational psychologists report will be sent to you.