Educational Psychology Service

Parents, Schools and Educational Psychologists
Working Together - Meeting Children’s Special Educational Needs

• We are graduates in psychology who are also experienced teachers.
• We have further training in child development and the psychology of learning.
• Our training and background enables us to assist in promoting children’s learning and emotional well-being.

• About 1 in 5 children may have special educational needs at some time during their schooling.
• Most will have their needs met through resources already available in school.
• However some children may require additional help through the 1996 Education Act and its Code of Practice.

1. Your child’s teacher shares concerns with you and discusses what could be done differently. This should result in an Individual Education Plan (IEP) setting targets for progress which will be reviewed on a regular basis. This stage is called School Action and may also involve the school’s Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo). In most cases this input will help meet your child’s needs and no further action will be necessary.

1. If there is not sufficient progress after a number of IEP cycles (Plan; Do; Review), the SENCo will consult with you about involving external agencies for additional advice. This might include the Educational Psychology Service. This stage is called School Action Plus and further IEPs should take account of the advice received. As with School Action, this will meet the needs of many children, who will then move back to School Action.

1. In a very few cases, when a child is still not making progress after intervention at School Action and School Action Plus consideration will be given to requesting a Statutory Assessment of your child’s special educational needs. This process is controlled by the Local Authority and might result in a Statement of Special Educational Needs.

• Advice to parents, carers, schools and other professionals.
• Assessment: we may work with your child and adults to obtain information. This may involve testing, discussing concerns or observing in different situations.
• Support: we may work further with your child and other adults, e.g.: support towards devising Individual Education Plans, monitoring progress, counselling.
• Training: we may offer training to school staff and parents/carers to support children with special educational needs.

• Your child’s school will contact us.
• We will discuss our involvement with school staff and would expect school staff to keep you fully informed.
• If advice is given to school through consultation, you may not meet the educational psychologist. However, we will meet with you if any individual assessment is conducted and you are entitled to a copy of anything that is written about your child.

• You have a right to see what is written about your child.
• We will try to use the language of your choice when communicating with you.
• Also available on audio cassettes and in large print form.