Who are Educational Psychologists (EPs)?
The EP service is part of Neath Port Talbot’s Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning Department. We are a team of applied psychologists who have background knowledge and experience of how children and young people learn and develop. We are concerned with the development, learning and social and emotional wellbeing of children and young people.
How do we work?
We bring together our knowledge and expertise with that of teachers and of you as parents or carers and other professionals. We aim to help bring about positive changes which will make a difference for children, particularly those who may be experiencing difficulties at school.
We work with children and young people between the ages of 0-19 in a variety of educational and other settings. We provide a range of services to schools, pupils and their parents, including:
- individual casework
- group work with children
- training for schools and other professionals
- supporting schools in raising pupil achievement and promoting school effectiveness
- working with parents and carers
- working with other agencies, e.g. Social Services, Health Authority professionals, voluntary agencies etc
- undertaking research and project work
- contributing to LEA policy and practice.
How do we get involved with individual children and what do we do?
Every school in NPT has an identified EP who visits the school on a regular basis and who is part of the school’s extended support team.
You will have already discussed with your child’s teacher the concerns regarding your child’s education. These concerns may be about the learning progress your child is making, how your child is behaving in school, how they are getting on with their classmates or maybe something else. The school will have tried, with your help, to improve things but now feel that involving us will help plan the way forward. This will only happen with your consent.
School staff will then complete an information form regarding your child and send it to us. When this form is received we will arrange an appointment to visit your child’s school and you will be told about the date and time by school staff.
When appropriate, you will be given an opportunity to discuss your child with us and, during our school visit, we may undertake some or all of the following:
- consulting with your child
- consulting with your child’s teachers
- observation in class and/or playground
- looking at your child’s work
- using assessment materials and tools.
What happens next?
There will usually be a written record/report of our involvement with your child. Our written report will include a summary of our involvement and any recommendations which follow on from the information gathered. Your child’s teacher will discuss these recommendations with you and give you a copy of our report.
Responsibility for helping your child remains with your child’s school, with your involvement and support. His or her progress will continue to be monitored by the school and reviewed after a reasonable period of time.