What do EPs do?
What do Educational Psychologists do?
- Consult with the staff and parents who know the child.
- Observe the child in the setting/school and/or at home.
- Assess the individual needs of the child using a wide range of assessment techniques. When an EP sees your child you have a right to be present.
- Discuss their findings with the referee and parents and decide an action plan.
- Contribute to the Individual Education Plan (IEP) or the Individual Behaviour Plan (IBP).
- Write a report for the referee, parents and other professionals concerned.
- Review the child's progress when necessary.
- Provide in service training for teachers and other professionals.
- Advise schools on their SEN delivery.
- Educational psychologists have a statutory duty to write advice to the LA in the case of a pupil whose needs are being assessed according to the Education Act 1996.
- The EP may attend Annual Reviews of pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs.
- EPs provide a service to a number of schools.
- Parents can phone a named EP for general advice at any time.
- The EPS is moving towards more joint working with other professionals including health personnel and those from social services.
- When information is shared, confidentiality is maintained.
- A parent will receive a report from any joint assessment and this will have been written by all concerned.
EPS Staff
- All the EPs are fully qualified by nationally recognised bodies.
- The EP has been trained as both a teacher and a psychologist and has experience of working in schools as well as for the LEA.
- Although all EPs can carry out general work in schools, most have also specialised in an area of educational psychology.
- The Service is staffed by the Principal Educational Psychologist, Senior EPs and Educational Psychologists.
- The PEP works closely with the Principal Education Officer, SEN, and the Assistant Executive Director, Children's Services.