Educational Psychology Service (EPS)

Service Overview

The Educational Psychology Service (EPS) is part of SEN and Engagement Service. Educational Psychologists (EPs)in Stockton provide independent advice to children, young people, parents and setting with the aim of supporting and promoting positive outcomes for all children and young people (0 – 25 years old) living in the borough.

Service delivery is based on a consultation model of psychology that is research and evidenced based, solution focused and can facilitate change. EPs will work with vulnerable children and young people and those who have complex and additional needs. All Educational Psychologists (EPs) apply psychology (the study of thinking, learning and behaviour) and knowledge of child development to help understand how to remove barriers to a child or young person’s development and learning. These barriers may relate to the broad areas of needs within the SEND code of practice i.e. communication and interaction, cognition and learning, social, emotional and mental health difficulties, sensory and/or physical needs. We work closely with other team members in the Schools and SEN directorate as well as schools, health, social care professionals and the multi-agency early help panel. The service we provide is designed to promote the best possible outcomes in terms of learning, social and emotional development and inclusion. To do this we work indirectly and directly with children and young people, offer advice, consultation, assessment, intervention, training and development for professionals and information and guidance for parents.

Who to contact

Contact Name: Elisha Smith
Contact Position: Service Lead, SEND Placements and Governance
Telephone: 01642 527110
01642 527111
E-mail: EPS@stockton.gov.uk

Where to go

Name: SEN and Engagement Service

Local Offer

Description

An EP is likely to become involved where a setting has asked for help with a child/young person’s substantial learning or behavioural problems, or where a setting feels there has been no improvement despite support being provided. The service operates both a free service and a traded service (schools/settings purchase an amount of time they believe they need).

Free Service

The range of our free service includes:

Individual case work for those children and young people undergoing Statutory Assessment initiated by the Local Authority

Individual case work for those children and young people for whom the Local Authority has decided to undertake a statutory reassessment of needs

Individual case work for those children and young people who already have an Education, Health and Care Plan at the request of the Authority. This may also include, staff training, interventions and consultation with specific groups of staff to support the placement of the child or young person

Individual case work for those children and young people identified by the Local Authority as requiring EPS involvement due to complex difficulties where there are significant barriers to learning and inclusion, working with the Continuum of Need and Services and Safeguarding (Child in Need, Child Protection, Looked After Children, attendance at ICPC and Case Conferences, and related involvement and assessment) and/or belonging to vulnerable groups include; those at risk of exclusion, new arrivals, and young carers, with or without a Special Educational Need/Education, Health and Care Plan

Psychological consultation/training focused on narrowing gaps in attainment, improving academic progress, promoting inclusion, transition needs for children and young people placed at Enhanced Mainstream Schools with an Education, Health and Care Plan, and supporting the development of school/academy staff

Other information

The EPS is developing a programme of intervention based work that can be delivered via our assistant EPs.

Training can be provided to any school through their partnership agreement. We expect any training delivered will be followed up by the EPS to consider impact. From September 2018 we hope to have a full directory of training and dates available for all schools to purchase. Examples of training packages available include:

Solution focused work

Understanding and supporting autism spectrum disorder

Developing growth mindsets

Precision Teaching

The human givens approach to emotional thinking and well being

Attachment

ELSA

Resilience

Anxiety

Planning alternative tomorrows with hope (PATHS)

Solution circles

Circle of adults

Foetal alcohol syndrome

Reciprocal teaching

ADHD

Acquired brain injury

Memory

Choice theory

Neglect

Big red bus

Cued spelling

The EPS does not accept direct referrals from parents or young people. We are happy for parents and young people to contact us on 01642 527110 to seek advice and help you consider what to do next.

For further information please contact the Educational Psychology Service on 01642 527110

Contact Name