Skip Navigation

This is a new website – your feedback will help us improve it.

Children and young people

Psychology is finding out why people think and act the way they do.

Many children and young people see an Educational Psychologist (EP).

This usually happens because someone has raised a concern about their wellbeing. For example:

  • a teacher
  • parent or carer
  • yourself

The EP will discuss the concern with the school's Additional Learning Needs Coordinator (ALNCo) first.

They will then plan the next steps together.

What we do

We help children and young people with difficulties they may have at school. This could include:

  • helping the adults around them understand and support their behaviour
  • learning
  • sensory or physical difficulties
  • their thoughts and feelings
  • using and understanding language

We work with them to understand the things they're good at and are not so good at.

This will help teachers and others find ways to help them.

Support

How we support children and young people depends on their needs.

To explore their needs, we may:

  • work with people who know them best to see how we can support their learning environment
  • ask them to take part in activities which helps us understand how they see the world
  • see them in their learning environment to understand their strengths
  • work with the school system to enhance knowledge and understanding

Outcomes

The EP will talk to the pupil's teacher, parents or carers to put a consultation together. This will:

  • provide a shared understanding of the pupil’s needs
  • help everyone understand what they need to do to make things better for them
  • set out agreed actions which all participants should note during the consultation

The pupil will take part throughout the process and have a right to give their opinion on any decisions made.

What happens next

The EP will:

  • send a written record of the consultation following the meeting
  • check on the pupil's progress with regular school visits
The EP will treat everyone the same whatever their age, gender or background.

Contact us

If you’d like advice or more information, please contact your child’s school first.

You can contact us if you have questions about our service:

Educational Psychology Service (EPS)