The role of the Educational Psychologist

If a child is experiencing any kind of difficulty in school, it can be a worrying time for parents. Concerns about progress in learning should be discussed with Form Tutors in the first instance; Form Tutors may then seek advice from the Support for Learning Department. In many cases, appropriate support can be put in place to help a child to overcome their difficulties.

Barriers to learning can be experienced for many reasons so if a child’s difficulties persist, then the next step may be to seek advice from an Educational Psychologist. Educational Psychologists have training in child development and how children learn and process information, alongside an in-depth knowledge of the education system. They are able to carry out testing to assess any difficulties and identify strengths, then offer advice based upon their findings.

The best outcomes for a child’s learning are achieved when parents, school staff and any outside agencies work closely together; for this reason, Educational Psychology assessments should be arranged through school. An approved Educational Psychologist is then able to come into school at an agreed time, observe the child in their normal place of learning and gather information by speaking directly to teachers and looking at classwork. The procedure at Cargilfield is as follows:

•    With parents’ consent, the Support for Learning Department contacts an approved Educational Psychologist to arrange an assessment.
•    Prior to the assessment, with parents’ agreement, school sends relevant background information and any existing assessments to the Educational Psychologist for review.
•        In school, the Educational Psychologist speaks to the child to get their views on what is going well or is difficult, liaises with staff and looks at classwork. They are trained in putting children at ease and making the experience as enjoyable as possible. The assessment is conducted over the course of a morning and is followed by a meeting with parents and Support for Learning staff to discuss findings.
•        A full written report is produced by the Educational Psychologist, detailing findings and recommendations (for example, teaching strategies and resources). Referrals to other professionals may be recommended and suggestions for access arrangements in examinations will be included if appropriate.

The information gathered from an assessment often proves to be invaluable in supporting a child in their learning and helping them to achieve their full potential.