Educational psychologist consultation
As an adoptive parent, you may hear about Educational Psychologists (EPs) and wonder what they do and how they can help your child.
EPs are specialists who use psychology to support Children and Young People (CYP) in their learning and emotional wellbeing. They work closely with families, schools, preschools, colleges, and local authorities to find the best ways to help children thrive.
As part of our Universal Offer, we can consider or explore a consultation with one of the Educational Psychologists in our partner local authorities.
Who do EPs work with?
EPs usually support children and young people from preschool age up to 25 years old. They help with a wide range of needs, including:
- Learning and progress at school.
- Social and communication skills.
- Emotional wellbeing.
Their approach is strength-based and person-centred, which means they focus on what your child is good at and what is working well, then build on that to make positive changes.
What does an Educational Psychologist do?
An Educational Psychologist’s role can include:
- Observing your child in school or other settings.
- Talking with you, your child, and school staff to understand what is going well and what is challenging.
- Carrying out assessments and creating plans to support learning and wellbeing.
- Helping schools and families work together to find solutions.
- Advising on strategies and signposting to other services.
EPs also have a statutory role in providing an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) for children with significant additional needs. They may also support schools after critical incidents or other experiences such as trauma, bereavement or a serious/prolonged illness.
How can you access Educational Psychologist support?
Our team will consider the best support and help which will meet your child’s needs, which could include an EP consultation through one of our partner Educational Psychology teams, Hampshire Educational Psychology, which also delivers services to the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth Educational Psychology and Southampton Educational Psychology.
Please note, these sessions are not appropriate if you already have or are soon to have EP involvement through your child’s school or through the statutory EHCNA process.
For more information, please visit our partners’ websites for Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton local authorities.
What is the outcome for the child?
Educational Psychologists aim to help children feel happier and more successful in education by understanding their strengths, interests, and challenges. They work with you, your child, and school staff to create practical plans that make a real difference.
To learn more, you can view a short video from Hampshire Educational Psychology.