What is an Educational Psychologist?

Educational Psychologists working in County Durham are qualified teachers with at least two years teaching experience. They have a degree in psychology or its equivalent, and have undertaken post-graduate professional training, usually leading to a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology or a Doctorate. They are eligible for Chartered Psychologist status with the British Psychological Society.

This training takes at least seven years to complete and is designed to develop knowledge and skills in:

Assessment and problem solving techniques
Child development.
How children learn and achieve.
Understanding why young people behave in certain ways and how to manage their behaviour more effectively.
Understanding why some children experience learning difficulties and what can be done to help them.
Understanding education, school and classroom systems.

What do Educational Psychologists Do?

Each mainstream school, special school and nursery has a named educational psychologist who visits on a regular basis. Schools are allocated a number of sessions each year. The number of sessions is based upon a formula which is agreed with headteacher. During these visits, we seek to prevent problems arising by providing advice about children and how to prevent difficulties by consultation and/or training. When problems do arise about a particular child or group of children, we will try to find out why the difficulties are occuring through a detailed assessment. On the basis of this assessment, we will make recommendations about ways to overcome the problem.

We do not always need to see the child in order to help. We may be able to make suggestions on the basis of information provided by other people such as teachers and parents. If we do need to see the child, we will always insist on parental permission before the first contact.

Assessment by an educational psychologist may take many different forms, depending upon the age of the child or the nature of the problem. If it seems that the child has special educational needs that cannot be met within the resources normally available to schools, it may be that an assessment of Special Educational Needs under the 1996 Education Act will be initiated. Further information is available from the educational psychologist who visits your child's school.