What do Educational Psychologists (EPs) do?

Educational Psychologists work in nurseries, schools, colleges and across the community to support children and young people (aged 0 to 25) with a wide range of needs including: communication, relationships, learning, emotional wellbeing, sensory differences and physical needs.

EPs try to understand how children and young people experience life at home and school and consider how different factors in these environments influence their development.

Educational Psychologists:

  • Have meetings (known as consultations) with school staff and parents/carers to find out more about a child/young person’s strengths and needs. In these meetings, joint decisions about what supports may help a student moving forward are often made;

  • Work directly with children/young people to gather their views, carry out assessments, or deliver individual/group programmes to support them with a particular need (e.g. social skills, anxiety etc.); 

  • Provide training to school staff or parents;

  • Work with senior leaders (e.g. head teachers) in educational settings to change policies and practices. 

For a printable leaflet explaining the EP role, please click here 

 

What to expect when you meet the EP?

When you meet an EP, they may ask you questions about:

  • Your child’s interests (What do they like doing?)
  • What is going well for your child (e.g. what are their strengths? What do you do that helps them?)
  • What your concerns are? (e.g. what does your child find hard? Do you ever try and support them in a particular way that doesn’t work?)
  • Your child’s early history (e.g. when they said their first word?)
  • Your family circumstances (e.g. who the child lives with? how they get on with people who live in their home?);
  • Your child’s views (e.g. about their strengths and needs? About school?)
  • Other professionals who are currently or have previously supported your child?

If you are not able to answer/or do not want to share any information with the EP, that is ok.

At the end of the meeting, the EP will plan next steps with you. You may:

  • Together create an action plan of supports that your child’s school or you can put in place straight away. This will then be reviewed after a short period of time (e.g. 6-8 weeks) by the school with your feedback; the EP may also attend;
  • it may be decided that more information about your child or their environment is needed. As such, the EP may ask your permission (or consent) to do an observation of your child or carry out an assessment on a 1-1 basis;
  • It could also be suggested that the EP works with your child directly for a number of sessions to deliver a support programme (known as an intervention). 

When you meet the EP, you are welcome to bring along a friend, relative or professional to support you if you feel that would be helpful.

 

How to access the EP service?

THE EP AT YOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL

If you have concerns about your child’s development or progress, it is best to speak to the Special Educational Need Co-ordinator (SENCo) at your child’s school. There are many strategies and support programmes school staff can put in place themselves, without needing an EP. However, if necessary, the SENCo is able to speak to an EP and ask their advice around possible next steps.

Before SENCOs involve an EP, they need consent (or permission) from parents/carers (unless the young person is over the age of 16).  It is also important that the child/young person is, where possible, told about EP involvement and asked for their views.​

THE EP IN THE EDUCATION, HEALTH AND CARE PLAN (EHCP) PROCESS

Applications for EHCPs are considered by the Local Authority Complex Needs Panel; an EP is one member of this panel. If the request meets criteria set out in government guidance, the panel will ask an EP (along with other professionals) to carry out an assessment of the child or young person’s strengths and needs and outline supports they may benefit from. The EP’s advice, along with that offered by other professionals, will help panel make a decision regarding the EHCP. For further information regarding the EHCP process, please click here. 

CENTRAL TRAINING

The EP team periodically offer free training for parents/carers. Speak to the SENCo at your child's nursery/school/college for more information. 

ONE OFF CONSULTATIONS

EPs offer 50-minute consultation slots for Barnet parents and carers. These are one off sessions. Speak to the SENCo at your child's nursery/school/college for more information. 

 

Feedback

Some recent feedback given by parents/carers who have met with members of the EP team:

“I feel more confident. I know what to do next and I feel relieved to see there are specialists at work.”

“It was so helpful to speak to someone about my concerns. Knowing the next steps and how to move forward.”​

The EP team are always keen to hear from parents who have worked with us. Please complete the following form to share your views:

Parent carer feedback form (parent/carer)

 

Other useful information 

EQUITY AND DIVERSITY

The EP team are commited to treating all service users fairly as well as promoting equity and diversity in the settings we work with. Our policy and position statement can be found by clicking here.

LITERACY DIFFICULTIES

The EP team continue to keep up to date with research related to supporting children with literacy difficulties. Our policy regarding supporting schools in this area, can be found here.