Educational Psychology Service: Information for parents and carers

• An Assistant Educational Psychologist is a psychology graduate with additional experience and knowledge in the application of psychology within education settings
• Like Educational Psychologists (EPs), they work with children and young people aged 0 to 25 years who have a Special Educational Need and/or Disability (SEND) and are in education. However, they are not a replacement for EPs, and work under the supervision of an experienced EP.
• We work in a variety of ways including:
  • individual work with children and young people and/or their families in educational settings
  • group work with children and young people in educational settings
  • delivering training and support to school staff
  • delivering workshops for parents and carers on agreed topics e.g. supporting children with homework, understanding how children learn, supporting social, emotional and mental health
• We use psychological tools and approaches to help everyone have a shared understanding of a child or young person’s needs and difficulties, and plan the next steps for their support
• Our aim is to empower the people we work with, and promote positive changes for children and young people’s experiences in education, by using psychology to understand their views and support them with their learning, development and emotional well-being

An Assistant Educational Psychologist might see a child or young person if they are experiencing difficulties that affect their learning, mental health or wellbeing.

These difficulties include:

• social situations, building and maintaining relationships with friends, family, teachers
• emotional regulation, resilience or self-esteem
• understanding and managing their feelings
• difficulty attending school due to fear, discomfort or other emotional distress

The SENCo will contact the Educational Psychology Service if they have concerns about your child or young person, and through this discussion they may identify that support from an Assistant Educational Psychologist could be best placed for your child’s current needs.

Unless the young person is 18 years of age or older, the SENCo will always talk to you about their concerns first and seek your permission to contact the Educational Psychology Service.

If you have concerns about your child or young person, you should always speak to their teacher or the SENCo first.

Contact us by email at EPSenquiries@swindon.gov.uk.

When working with an individual child or young person, an Assistant Educational Psychologist may:

• work with your child or young person once a week, usually up to six weeks, following a specific support intervention
• work with your child or young person alongside their peers in workshops or weekly support groups
• hold a joint problem solving discussion with you, their teachers or other relevant staff and professionals
• observe your child or young person (e.g. in class; in the playground)
• ask your child or young person some questions about their interests, what they find difficult, what they wish to change and what they think might help them
• ask your child or young person to complete some activities
• write a report summarising the discussions, lessons learned about support strategies and next steps for maintaining progress

The Assistant Educational Psychologist may ask:

• what do you like and admire about...?
• what are... strengths?
• what are... difficulties?
• what challenges do you face?
• what do you hope to gain from the Assistant Educational Psychologist’s involvement?
• what do you hope for their future?
• what do you think needs to change?
• what do you think might help?

As Assistant Educational Psychologists work alongside Educational Psychologists, they are also part of the ‘Graduated Response’ to supporting SEND.

The Graduated Response uses an assess, plan, do, review approach at every stage.

Universal provision

This is the support all children receive through high quality teaching (Quality First Teaching).

Targeted support

An Assistant Educational Psychologist can become involved in supporting Universal Provision, but may also form part of targeted support for difficulties that are emerging for early intervention to support concerns or difficulties raised through the Graduated Response.

For example, they might deliver training or problem solving sessions with teachers to support Universal provision.

Or, following the assessment process and planning for next steps to help meet the needs of your child or young person, they may provide a short-term intervention within Targeted Provision.

As part of the plan, do, review process, a review may identify the child or young person requires more specialist targeted provision than what the Assistant Educational Psychologist can provide, and the process would continue.

Guidance for what to do if you are concerned about the support your child is receiving can be found on the frequently asked question page: I am concerned about issues with my child at school, what should I do?

Email: EPSenquiries@swindon.gov.uk