What do they do?

Educational psychologists apply psychology (the study of thinking, learning and behaviour) to support children / young people (0-25 years) who are experiencing difficulties within an educational setting with the aim of enhancing their learning, development and emotional wellbeing. Educational psychologists might work with staff and parents, carry out classroom observations, talk to children and carry out psychological testing. Educational psychologists promote evidence based practice when making recommendations to support children and young people. They also work closely with other services, including health and social care.

Educational psychologists work with staff in schools and settings to help them to have the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of children with special educational needs (SEN), particularly those who are receiving SEN Support (SEND Code of Practice, 2015). Educational psychologists also provide advice as part of an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment.

All our educational psychologists have experience of working with children and young people (0-25 years), a first degree in psychology and a specialist degree in educational psychology at masters or doctorate level and are required to be registered as practitioner psychologists with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). They provide an independent perspective of the child’s needs and how best these needs should be met.

When do they get involved? 

All maintained and local authority schools and colleges have a link educational psychologist, who meets with school staff to plan their work. If a school would like the educational psychologist to support a child, they will have discussed this with parents and gained their consent. Educational psychologists are likely to help when children / young people have significant and complex SEND difficulties which are affecting their access to learning. They also provide support where there are significant needs in relation to the child or young person’s emotional health and wellbeing that are affecting their ability to access learning and their relationships with others. The difficulties that arise from these needs may be difficult to understand and have not responded to the support already in place.  Educational psychologists have statutory duties, including contributing to Education, Health and Care Plan needs assessment and these pieces of work always take priority.

How do I access an educational psychologist?

If you are concerned about your child, speak to your child’s school, preschool or college in the first instance. 

Access to an educational psychologist is normally through the setting SENCo using a 'Required Information and Consent' form or an Early Help Assessment from the Statutory Assessment Team when children already have an Education, Health and Care Plan. Access can also come directly from social care.

What do they do? 

Specialist teachers provide specialist advice and support to children / young people (0-16 years).  Specialist teachers may work directly with children/young people in settings or school, including those children who are unable to attend school for reasons such as medical needs or permanent exclusion. Specialist teachers provide guidance and support to settings and schools on developing robust transitions for children with SEN.

Specialist teachers also work with children and families following the Early Support pathway in the Early Years. Children who have needs that do not meet the threshold for Early Support, should have their needs met through SEN Support in the early years setting.  

Specialist teachers: 

• provide advice and support to settings, schools and families for individual children or groups of children with significant and complex needs
• offer bespoke SEND Training for settings and schools (individually or in clusters)
• provide key working and lead professional role for families who are part of Early Support
• work alongside Early Years practitioners, Early Support professionals and services to support 0 – 5 children with SEND and their families
• deliver parenting training programmes or interventions to support families with a child with social communication difficulties/autism

Specialist teachers encourage schools to include parents in meetings as their involvement is vital in helping to understand the child’s needs, the family priorities and wishes. 

When do they get involved?  

All maintained / local authority schools and nurseries have a link specialist teacher who meets with school staff to plan their work. If a school would like the specialist teacher to support a child, they will have discussed this with parents and gained their consent. They are likely to help when children / young people have identified SEND needs and where schools have already supported the child using Assess, Plan Do, Review cycles but need additional specialist support.

How do I access them? 

If you are concerned about your child, speak to your child’s school or preschool in the first instance. The majority of children will be supported with their additional needs by schools and settings without specialist involvement.

Access to a specialist teacher is normally via the SENCo through a 'Required Information and Consent' form or an Early Help Assessment (EHA). Requests for specialist teacher involvement may also come from the Statutory Assessment Team when children already have an Education, Health and Care Plan.

What do they do?

Specialist practitioners work closely with educational psychologists and specialist teachers to provide direct targeted support to children and young people. They usually work with children and young people aged between 2–11 years.  This may involve 1-1 work with children in the home or setting or running support groups for children and parents / carers. When working in settings the aim will be to share their skills and knowledge with the school / setting so that staff there can continue to support the child / young person once the specialist practitioner’s work has finished.

When do they get involved?

Educational psychologists and specialist teachers will work closely with specialist practitioners to decide which children/young people will benefit from their support. They will be involved for a specific amount of time, which will be agreed with school and parents/carers. In the majority of cases, their involvement is likely to be for a maximum of six weeks in schools.

How do I access them?

Specialist practitioners are not directly accessed, but support the work of the Educational psychologists and specialist teachers.

Huntingdonshire area

Huntingdon, St Ives, Ramsey, Sawtry, Yaxley and St Neots
Email: hunts.s4ladmin@cambridgeshire.gov.uk  

East Cambridgeshire and Fenland Area

Wisbech, March, Chatteris, Whittlesey, Ely, Littleport, Bottisham, Burwell, Soham and Witchford
Email: ECFSFL@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City Area

Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire
Email: SCC.supportforlearning@cambridgeshire.gov.uk