Psychology in Education Services
Educational psychologists apply psychology to promote the learning and social and emotional development of vulnerable children and young people with additional educational needs in the community.
In addition to the statutory functions outlined in the SEN Code of Practice PES supports settings and schools in planning and organising interventions to support young people and in assessing the effectiveness of these interventions. In addition, PES supports whole school development by providing training and input to staff.
The Service provides specialist support in a number of areas including autism, early years, mental health, parenting programmes and hearing impairment. The Service also works with Social Services as part of a network to support children in need and with those on Child Protection Plans.
The Service is part of the School Improvement and Standards Division and works closely with colleagues in other services within the Division as well as with those from Complex Needs and Children, Youth and Community Divisions. The Service liaises actively with colleagues in community services and local health providers in support of individual children and families.
Support offered by Educational Psychologists (EPs):
Consultation is the main form of support to SENCOs who have concerns regarding pupil progress. This consultation can be supported by classroom observation and by individual work with children and young people. Interventions resulting from these consultations can include group work with targeted groups of pupils and further psychological assessment of young people’s needs.
Consultation can also be offered to parents and carers who have concerns about their children’s development or progress.
EPs run courses for targeted groups of professionals within the LA, e.g. SENCOs, SSAs. In addition, EPs run courses on specific areas of teaching and learning open to all schools, e.g. creating mentally healthy schools, mediated learning, anti-bullying.
The benefits
We can provide
- An enhanced understanding of a young person’s needs through our in-depth knowledge of current developments within psychology.
- Knowledge of systems and an objective insight into the strengths and needs of the school.
- Links to other LA/community services/health providers to promote seamless provision for children and young people.
- A focus on improved outcomes for pupils and families.
- Supporting the professional development of teachers and SSAs.
Service standards
All schools receive an allocation of EP time based on level of need. At the beginning of each year, EPs negotiate the focus of their work over the year with the Headteacher and SENCO, thereby creating a service delivery plan. The effectiveness of the service delivery plan will be evaluated each year, at the end of the summer term. Parent/carer feedback is also important to our service development and planning and all parents/carers we work with are now asked to fill in a feedback form about PES service delivery. Click here to open parent/carer feedback form.
Contact details:
Psychology in Education Service, 1st Floor, Cambridge House, Cambridge Grove, London W6 0LE.
Tel. 020 8753 3718
Page last updated: 08/12/2011
