What we do
The educational psychology team uses psychology to support children and young people, especially those with special or additional educational needs. We work with schools, settings and families to help children thrive in their learning, emotional and social development.
We seek to work in a collaborative, strengths-based way, aiming to:
- promote a holistic and broad-based understanding of children’s development, recognising the unique nature of every child and their context
- maximise learning outcomes for children and young people
- promote their pro-social behaviour and emotional wellbeing
- enhance the knowledge, skills and confidence of staff in schools and other settings
- help parents and carers to support the educational, social and emotional development of their children
How we work
We support individual children, groups and organisations through:
- consultation and advice
- psychological assessments
- tailored interventions
- training and development
- research and evaluation
Much of our work is guided by the SEND Code of Practice. Early intervention is usually arranged through service level agreements with schools and settings. We also provide statutory psychological advice for Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments.
Our team
Our team includes:
- main grade, specialist and senior educational psychologists (EPs)
- trainee EPs completing their doctorate (with weekly supervision)
- an early years coordinator
- the Small Steps Team
All EPs are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and follow its standards of practice.
We also contribute to strategic developments across the council. A senior EP leads on key areas including:
- cognition and learning
- social, emotional and mental health
- speech, language and communication
- early years
Our Small Steps Team works closely with families and early years settings to support children with more complex developmental needs.