Educational psychologists support schools and the local authority to improve all children’s and young people’s experiences of learning. This will include support for wellbeing, emotional and social development, and to ensure all children and young people make progress with learning and achievement.

The focus of an educational psychologist’s work is to share knowledge of psychology and child development to identify any barriers to learning and promote inclusive approaches that can help achieve the best possible outcomes for all children and young people.

Educational psychologists work in a person-centred way in partnership with parents, carers, families and others. They promote a holistic and inclusive approach to support the teaching, parenting and development of children and young people. They listen to and promote the voice of the children and young people.

Statutory Processes (relating to the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 (ALNET Act))

Depending on the circumstances, advice can be sought from an educational psychologist if the educational setting feel it would be relevant. Local authorities must consider whether to seek advice from an educational psychologist when they decide if a child or young person has ALN and when preparing an individual development plan (IDP).

An educational psychologist role within the ALNET Act may include:

• participation in the development of individual development plans (IDPs)
• attending person-centred reviews where appropriate
• supporting the development of ALN policy and process as a response to the ALN Code
• providing evidence for mediation and tribunals
• advising on entry to education, planning and pre-school assessments

All practising educational psychologists are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) https://www.hcpc-uk.org/. You can check if an educational psychologist is registered through the HCPC register https://www.hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register/.

For more information about the role of educational psychologists please visit  https://www.gov.wales/educational-psychologists-guidance

Monmouthshire EPS Values

We work within Monmouthshire County Council Key Values and Behaviours:

Our purpose is underpinned by a clear sense of who we are as an organisation. We expect people who work with us to share a strong value set and expect that these are evident in the ways in which we work and engage with our communities.

Teamwork

We will work with you and our partners to support and inspire everyone to get involved. We will make the best of the ideas, and resources available to make sure we do the things that most positively impact our people and places.

Openness

We are open and honest. People have the chance to be involved and tell us what matters.

Flexibility

We are flexible, enabling delivery of the most effective and efficient services. This means a genuine commitment to working with everyone to embrace new ways of working.

Fairness

We provide opportunities for people and communities to thrive. We will always try to treat everyone fairly and consistently.

Kindness

We will show kindness to all those we work with, putting the importance of relationships and the connections we have with one another at the heart of all interactions

We aim to create change by:

Advocating for the vulnerable

Working in a collaborative manner

Keeping psychology at the core of our practice

Working in a preventative way

Being flexible and adaptable with our practice

Informed Consent

Permission and signed consent is always sought from parents/carers prior to the involvement of an EP.

All EPs working in Monmouthshire Educational Psychology Service are required to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council as Practitioner Psychologists and work within their legal and ethical standards.

EPS-Information-for-pupils-and-Young-People

Please click this link to access our EPS Information for Schools document

Professional learning, resources, leaflets and guidance documents provided by the Educational Psychology Service can be found here

Other useful Training Portal Links:

Additional Learning Needs (ALN) – Resources

Inclusion

Monmouthshire Autism in Schools and Settings

Monmouthshire Specialist Teaching Service

Note: Portal Links are only accessible for MCC staff

Within Monmouthshire, educational psychologists respond flexibly to our local authority priorities and so undertake a wide range of duties. This includes working in schools.

Early Years Support

The EPS, via the Early Years ALN Team, provide support for nursery aged children in a variety of pre-school settings, including school nurseries.

School Link EPs

In Monmouthshire, all schools and the PRS (Pupil Referral Service) which includes EOTAS (Education Other Than At School)  have access to the EPS  through a named link EP, who provide bespoke and flexible support to meet the unique needs of their pupils and families.

The school link EP works closely with the School ALNCo (Additional Learning Needs Coordinator) to plan and prioritise the work of the EP.  

On occasion, our Inclusion Panel will coordinate a request for the Educational Psychology Service to provide support or become involved with a child or young person.

Where direct involvement with a child/young person is requested, then parent/carer consent would be obtained. Young people can give consent for themselves, depending on their level of understanding or their ‘capacity to consent’.

If you are a parent/carer and think your child may need support from an Educational Psychologist, you should speak to your school’s Additional Learning Needs Coordinator (ALNCo) first.

Useful Documents:

EPS Information for Children and Young People

EPS parentcarer leaflet.pdf

EPS Early Years Leaflet ParentCarer

EPS Parent and Carer School Worries Guide

EPS one page profile Download