Enfield Educational Psychology Service (EPS)

An educational psychologist is a trained applied psychologist who has a psychology degree, as well as a masters or doctorate training in educational psychology.

Through their specialist knowledge, an educational psychologist can improve the life chances and educational achievement of children and young people.

They work with the adults who know the child or young person well to understand their strengths and areas of need. They can also carry out psychological work with the child or young person. By working together, the educational psychologist will help plan the next steps to support a child’s emotional wellbeing and learning.

Educational psychologists can help children and young people through a range of work, including:

• consultation and advice to schools and settings
• individual psychological assessments with children and young people
• working with other agencies
• interventions including therapeutic support
• delivering professional learning for education staff
• providing parent or carer support

They also work with people across many levels, including:

• system leaders at a national, regional or local level - supporting policy and strategic developments, including action research
• whole school or educational settings - supporting organisational approaches, for example a whole school approach to wellbeing, or training staff on approaches to autism etc.
• groups of parents or carers - giving guidance on common areas to provide help, for example workshops or intervention programmes on autism or children’s emotional development
• groups of children and young people - giving guidance on common areas to provide help, for example workshops or intervention programmes on managing anxiety, preparing for exams, or supporting siblings
• individual children and young people and their families - supporting children with their learning, development, or emotional wellbeing or behaviour. They work with the other professionals involved with the child and their school / educational setting.

Children, young people and their families can get support from an Enfield educational psychologist when any one of the following apply:

• the EPS gets a formal request from a professional for a pre-school / early years child living in Enfield
• the child or young person goes to an Enfield school that has purchased the EPS
• the SEN service has asked for information and advice from the EPS as part of an Educational Health and Care Needs Assessment or to support the Education Health and Care Plan of a child or young person
• the child or young person has been referred to another team which has asked for support from an educational psychologist, for example HEART

Educational psychologists are committed to involving parents and carers, and children and young people, in all decision making. They work collaboratively and recognise that parents, carers, and education staff will know the child best.

A written summary report is given when any direct work is carried out by an educational psychologist. If educational psychologists are joining a school review meeting, the school will usually provide the written record or the updated Individual Education Plan or Learning Support Plan.

An Educational psychologist will always get consent from the parent or carer and from the young person if over the age of 16.

If you have concerns about a child or young person’s learning, wellbeing, or mental health, you should speak to their school or educational setting. Educational settings can usually meet the needs of most children or young people.

The educational setting may set up a Learning Support Plan or an Individual Education Plan with you. The plan will include areas to improve on, possible outcomes and support that will help in school and at home. You will meet with the school to review the plan and the progress your child is making.

During this process, the school or educational setting may want to involve the educational psychologist for further thinking and support. Schools purchase this service and prioritise in line with the needs of children in their school.