Educational psychologists

An educational psychologist specialises in difficulties children may experience between early childhood and late adolescence, including developmental difficulties, learning difficulties, emotional and behavioural problems, physical disabilities, speech and language delay and vision and hearing problems. They work closely with the Local Education Authority (LEA) to help them meet the educational needs of these children.

Educational psychologists are professionals with a degree in psychology and professional training in educational psychology. All educational psychologists are qualified teachers who have taught for at least two years.

The psychologists contribute to the assessment of children's educational need and advise teachers, schools, parents and the LEA how these can best be met.

The educational psychology service is free and children with significant special educational needs have access to it.

Pre-school children
Children who have not reached school age but who have significant difficulties are referred to educational psychologists for advice about their educational needs by nursery schools or by the health service. Before an educational psychologist can see any child they need his/her parents' permission .

An educational psychologist will gather information about a pre-school child by:

talking to the child's parents to find out how the child behaves at home and their views about the child
observing the child in their own home and/or in a nursery class or playgroup
involving the child in playing with their toys or other apparatus
carrying out some formal tests with the child
talking to other professionals who already know the child such as health visitors, speech therapists or doctors

The educational psychologist will always discuss an assessment with the parents and ask for their opinions. If they feel that the child is likely to need additional help when starting school they may, with parental consent, alert the Local Education Authority (LEA). The LEA may then decide to make a statutory assessment of the child's needs under the 1996 Education Act to ensure that he/she receives appropriate help.

Children who are at school
Every LEA school has an allocated educational psychologist who visits regularly. They can be contacted on (020) 8825 5050. A Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) is available at each school to discuss parental concerns and is responsible for referring children to the educational psychology service.

Schools have to follow government guidelines in helping children who have difficulties in school and these are laid out in a document called The Code of Practice on Special Educational Needs. Children are placed on a stage, under the code of practice, according to the severity of their need.

Children who are at the school action plan plus stage within the code of practice are likely to be discussed with the educational psychologist on their routine visits to the school, and, if parents agree, some of these children may be seen by the educational psychologist for an assessment and advice may be given to the school and parents.

If an educational psychologist assesses your child they may:

look at your child's work and behaviour in the classroom
obtain background information from teachers and other professionals involved with your child such as speech therapists
give your child formal tests to assess their ability and/or attainments in reading, spelling or mathematics etc
discuss the problems with your child
look at your child's social and emotional adjustment
make recommendations and advise teachers on how to help your child and discuss their progress
talk to you to find out how your child behaves at home, how you see their difficulties, and advise how best you can help

A very small minority of children who have the most severe educational needs will reach the stage in which a formal assessment of their needs is made under the 1996 Education Act. When such an assessment is necessary you will have the opportunity to discuss the educational psychologist's contribution. If the LEA decides your child needs further help, at the end of this assessment, your child will be issued with a statement of special educational needs describing this help and guaranteeing the necessary resources.

An educational psychologist's contact with you
An educational psychologist has to have your permission before they can see your child. You have to have the right to see any reports written about your child. You are always invited to meet with the educational psychologist.

As a parent, you have a right to be present if a psychologist sees your child. However, in most circumstances they find they are able to make a better assessment of your child's needs when they see them alone.

If you approach the educational psychology service directly without going through your child's school, we would normally contact the school and discuss your child's needs before taking any further action.

For school age children individual referrals are only accepted from schools.

Further information
You can obtain a free copy of the code of practice on special educational needs from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES): 0845 602 2260.