Educational Psychology

"We are mainly concerned with children and young people (aged 0-19 years) who may have significant difficulties with their education."

The Educational Psychology and Behaviour Support Team is mainly concerned with children and young people (aged 0-19 years) who may have significant difficulties with their education. The Service assesses the difficulties that children may have, and provides advice to teachers, parents and others.

The Service also works with local authority officers and other organisations to help improve provision for children with special educational needs.  The Service aims to develop better ways of supporting the educational, social and emotional development of all children and young people in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

What is the Educational Psychology and Behaviour Support Team?

The Educational Psychology and Behaviour Support Team is part of the Inclusion Team in the Children, Family and Adult Services Directorate (CFAS)in the East Riding Yorkshire Council. It consists of a team of educational psychologists, advisory teachers, outreach support officers, home school liaison officers, education welfare officer, work related learning team, exclusion and reintegration officers, CAMHS worker and two pupil referal units (PRU's). All educational psychologists are specialists in the psychological development, behaviour and learning of children and young people. Educational psychologists are very familiar with the work of schools and the education system. They all have a degree in psychology (or equivalent qualification) plus a specialist, master`s degree, qualification in educational psychology. All the advisory teachers are experienced teachers. Most have additional teaching qualifications that enable them to offer expert advice on social, emotional and behaviour difficulties. All other staff have appropriate qualifications and experience to undertake their specific role.

• To support schools and parents/carers in ensuring that all children, but more specifically
  children with special educational needs have the greatest access possible to the school
  curriculum.

• To give advice to teachers,parents/carers and others on the social, emotional and learning needs of their children.

• To provide a training and consultancy service to schools and other organisations concerned with children's needs.

• To give psychological advice to the Local Educational Authority, sometimes as part of Statutory Assessments of children's needs.

• To support key stage four pupils in accessing and attending appropriate work related learning packages as needed.

• To support children and their carers through the permenant exclusion system and to also help place excluded pupils in appropriate education.

What sort of help does the team provide?

The service is consulted on all aspects of children's development.

For Example:

• Children who have special difficulty with some or all aspects of school work.
• Children who are exceptionally able.
• Children who refuse or are very reluctant to go to school.
• Children who find it hard to relate to other children.
• Children who are highly anxious.
• Children whose rate of development is different, or a cause for concern.
• Children with physical, learning, visual or hearing difficulties.
• Children with a specific learning difficulty.
• Assists schools in identifying and addressing problems associated with disaffection and their
  effects on behaviour.
• Promotes the development of a multi-staged approach to behaviour management within the various management teams within schools.
• Provides specific advice and support to schools in relation to particular pupils or groups of
  pupils causing concerns with regard to behaviour.
• Help with the placement of pupils by working in close co-operation with schools, parents and
  pupils to increase the likelihood of success.
• Work in close co-operation with schools in the preparation of Individual Behaviour Plans (IBP) and Pastoral Support Plans (PSP). This includes developing ways to use all appropriate resources and personnel within,and outside school.
• Develop effective liaison with all agencies involved in the management and care of these pupils including those 'looked after'.
• Use a range of assessment strategies and develop shared criteria for referral to associated
  agencies.
• To assist schools in their management of behaviour in order to improve the educational
  experiences of children with behavioural difficulties and to reduce the number of exclusions
  across the authority.
• To provide effective programmes for the reintegration of excluded pupils.
• To encourage the adoption of a multi-disciplinary approach for all pupils experiencing / causing behavioural difficulties.
• To maximise access to education for excluded pupils in Key Stage 4.
• To provide advice and support at the stage of pupils transferring between infants and junior,
  and primary/junior to secondary school.
• Educational Psychologists and Advisory Teachers can also advise on general issues related to learning and behaviour
  

Pre-school children are referred to the Educational Psychology and Behaviour Support Team by health professionals including paediatricians and speech therapists. Specialist pre-school teachers known as portage home workers can also refer children to the service. School age children are referred by schools. Each school has a set amount of educational psychologist and advisory teacher time. Schools prioritise children based on level of need and refer those with the highest level of need.

What if I do not want the help of an Educational Psychologist?

If someone has referred your child they should have had your agreement beforehand. If you did agree but later change your mind then the involvement of the service will stop at your request.

Will I be able to see what has been written about my child?

Yes. Everything the educational psychologist and advisory teacher does and writes concerning your child is available for you to see. You will receive a copy of all consultation records about your child, directly from the Educational Psychology and Behaviour Support Team.

What happens if my child is referred to an Educational Psychologist?

An educational psychologist will attend a consultation meeting in your child's school. You will usually be invited to attend this meeting. Other people may, with your approval be asked to join this consultation. The first meeting will aim to clarify what the problem is. Information will be collected from teachers, yourself and the educational psychologist may observe your child in class. If the educational psychologist feels they need further information they may see your child on an individual basis. Based on all the information collected strategies will be agreed and then implemented by school. Sometimes parents will also be asked to carry out a programme at home. A review date will be set at the end of the meeting to ensure that your child's progress is monitored and that the strategies can be modified depending on the outcome of the review.

What kind of help will be given?

In consultation with parents and other adults who may be involved (teacher or health visitor for example) the educational psychologist will jointly decide on an appropriate course of action. This action will usually involve school and parents implementing some sort of intervention programme. The programme can be for learning or social emotional development. A programme may involve more than one aspect of dvelopment.

Sometimes it may be appropriate to make a referral to another agency which the educational psychologist or school will arrange.

An educational psychologist may decide that they need to undertake or support school in group work involving your child. Parents/carers will alwyas be kept fully informed of any such decisions.

The educational psychologist or advisory teacher may decide that the situation needs support from another part of the EPBST. They will ensure that support is then sought.

How much does it cost?

The service is provided free of charge by East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

Who do I contact if I need more information?

Your Child`s school will be able to give more detailed information about the Educational Psychologist and Behaviour support Team.

Enter an on-line enquiry

The Principal Educational Psychologist is Mrs Elaine Redmayne