Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Educational Psychology Service

The Educational Psychology Service (EPS) aims to support and promote positive outcomes for all children and young people living in Stockton-on-Tees.

We work with vulnerable children and young people from birth to nineteen and those who have additional needs.

How does the Educational Psychologist decide the best way to treat your child?

All Educational Psychologists are registered with and regulated by the Health Professionals Council (HPC) and demonstrate specific Standards of Proficiency. These standards influence our work.

Educational Psychologists can do a variety of tasks in their everyday work:

• Providing consultation and advice to others.
• Conducting psychological assessments using a range of methods to inform intervention.
• Using psychological interventions to promote the psychological well-being, social, emotional and behavioural development in children and young people.
• Delivering professional development and training to support the learning of others in the application of psychological skills, knowledge, practices and procedures.
• Conducting psychological research and evaluation. 

What do Stockton Educational Psychologists do?

We use a consultation framework. This means we work with other agencies using psychology to help others understand children and young people's difficulties and to find solutions.

Educational Psychologists help develop and review action plans to ensure better outcomes for children and young people and work closely with parents and carers.

To ensure that we can help those children and young people most in need; we prioritise individual cases:

• Children with complex difficulties where there are significant barriers to learning (e.g. learning delay, acute or chronic medical difficulties, multiple and profound physical or sensory impairments, social and emotional difficulties leading to challenging behaviour, or significant language or social communication difficulties).
• Children with a Statement of Special Educational Need.
• Vulnerable groups (e.g. children looked after by the Local Authority, children who have a protection plan, children who are at risk of exclusion, new arrivals and young carers). 

Do you think your child needs the help of an Educational Psychologist

If you are concerned about your child's learning, emotional well-being, behaviour or physical/medical need in school you should discuss your concerns with your child's teacher or the school SENCo first.  They may be able to help without the need to involve an Educational Psychologist.

If the school agrees that your child may benefit from our help they will apply to us on your behalf - they will discuss this with you first and need your signed permission.

If we decide that we can work with your child we will contact the school to arrange a joint meeting where we will decide what to do next.  The school will let you know the date of the meeting. You will be invited to attend the meeting along with the SENCo or your child's teacher. Other people involved with your child may also be invited to this meeting.  

Educational Psychology service helpline

A helpline service is available to parents, schools and colleagues from other agencies who are concerned about a child's learning, development or emotional well-being and for younger children not yet in school.

You can contact the helpline during term time. 

The helpline is available at the following times: Monday: 9am to 12pm and Wednesday: 1pm to 4pm. A reduced service is available outside of term time.

Parents - The duty Educational Psychologist will ask a number of questions about your concerns and if it is felt there is a need for further involvement from our service we will forward your concerns to the Educational Psychologist working in your area.

Sometimes we may advise that we are not the best people to help but we will try to give you the contact details of another service that may help you.

Schools, nurseries and other professionals - If you contact us about a named child/young person we expect the parents or person holding parental responsibility to have given their verbal consent for you to talk to us.

If we agree that we can help with this case we will ask you to complete a 'request for EPS involvement' form and get signed permission from a parent or person holding parental responsibility to allow us to discuss the child/young person.

If the child is already known to us, it is best that you speak with the Educational Psychologist already involved, so we take a message for that person to return your call.

Contact the Educational Psychology service

Early Support Inclusion Coordinator

The Early Support Inclusion Coordinator (ESIC) offers inclusive support and learning opportunities to children aged five years and under.

Support can be provided to people who work with children, such as; Nursery and playgroups, special education needs co-ordinators. childminders and children's centres.

The support includes:

• setting specific intervention strategies and individual targets for children
• delivery of targeted training for staff to develop inclusive practices
• support for children with additional needs (not just those with special educational needs)
• co-ordinating relevant specialist help and support agencies
• helping parents to access the help their child may need
• helping children with identified additional needs and their families during transition to mainstream school

Contact the Early Support Inclusion co-ordinator