The Educational Psychology Service (EPS) offers EPS Consultation to schools and settings.
For many children and young people this will facilitate problem-solving to help the SENCO to consider strategies and approaches that will support the child or young person; it may lead to staff training or person-centred planning as part of an SEN Support Plan.
- EPS Consultation information for parents and carers
- EPS Consultation information for schools and settings
EPS Consultation information for parents and carers
Consultation involves working together to try to achieve the most positive outcomes regarding a problem or issue that a child or young person is experiencing. During a consultation, concerns are identified by school staff and parents or carers, and action plans with agreed, achievable steps and goals are developed.
Educational Psychologists (EPs) contribute to the consultation by using their experience and knowledge of child development, problem-solving, the psychology of learning and organisational processes.
A consultation is a collaborative process, meaning that the opinions and ideas of all members present are considered and discussed in order to find positive solutions and ways forward.
The benefits of consultation
- parents/carers find the experience positive and their participation is promoted
- all participants’ views are valued, including the voice of the child/young person
- parents/carers feel listened to
- consultation can help build a positive working relationship between home and school
- no individual in the meeting has greater power than the other
- a joint and shared plan is developed
During a consultation
The discussion will focus on the child or young person using solution-focused conversations and questions to help overcome difficulties that they are facing.
Notes and actions will be recorded to form an action plan. This should be reviewed in a follow-up meeting.
You will always have to provide written consent for your child to be discussed during a consultation. You do not have to be physically (or virtually) present at the meeting, it is your choice.
A consultation meeting will take approximately 1 hour.
Example consultation scenario
A primary school are concerned about Sam in Year 4. His progress with learning is very slow and he is falling further behind his peers in most areas. School staff decide to contact their link EP for help. The EP suggests that the first step should be a consultation with Sam’s parents, his teacher and the school SENCO.
In the consultation concerns about Sam are discussed as well as his strengths, strategies which have been used, how well they have worked and potential future strategies.
Sam’s parents have the chance to talk about what Sam enjoys doing and to give their views on his progress. The discussion also includes the teacher’s suggestions on how to help Sam achieve his targets, together they develop a shared understanding and form a plan for what to do next, and a date is set for a review meeting next term.
Further assessments following a consultation
Educational Psychology assessment is a process of information gathering by an EP, which may inform future intervention. It will consider environmental, contextual, cognitive, behavioural, emotional and social factors.
In some cases it may be agreed for individualised assessment or direct work to be conducted in addition to consultation. This will be dependent on the cause of concern and the information already available. Parents/carers will be informed if any additional assessment or direct work is to be carried out by an EP.
Parents/carers are not usually asked to attend these sessions as it can sometimes change the child or young person’s behaviour if parents/carers are present.
EPS Consultation information for schools and settings
Consultation is a collaborative discussion where all relevant parties have an equal opportunity to openly share their concerns and views. The aim is to devise a plan to address the challenges they are facing in helping the child or young person to learn and develop.
The Educational Psychologist’s (EP's) role is to support the adults involved to develop solutions and bring about meaningful change. The outcome of a consultation is often a detailed picture of the pupil and their context which aids the development of an action plan, for schools and families to implement. This includes strategies, newly acquired skills and knowledge to support the pupil.
Key elements in consultation are:
- no individual in the meeting has greater power than another
- everyone has an active role to play
- consultees have the right to accept or reject suggestions by the consultant
- the relationship is voluntary
- it is confidential, unless there are any safeguarding risks
If you've discussed a case in a planning meeting or initial discussion, you will still need a consultation meeting. A discussion which raises initial concerns in a planning meeting is not a consultation.
A consultation can contribute to requests for statutory assessments. A written record of consultation with an EP can be regarded as evidence of the involvement of external specialist services to support the child or young person.
The benefits of consultation
- schools can work effectively and proactively with their link EP
- teachers’ problem-solving skills are enhanced and their confidence in effecting change increases
- it builds capacity - the adults involved in consultation generalise their skills and practice to other children so that staff are equipped for future challenges
- it helps to promote early intervention
- parents/carers respond positively and their participation is promoted - this helps to foster better home/school working relationships
Requesting a consultation
Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) can discuss suitability of consultation for a child or young person during a termly planning meeting. If consultation is agreed, the Request for Educational Psychology form should be completed, with parental consent, and sent to the school/setting’s link EP.
- Educational Psychology - School-age Request for Educational Psychology Involvement Form
- Educational Psychology - Post-16 Request for Educational Psychology Involvement Form
You will need to obtain written consent to discuss a child with a link EP from those with parental responsibility for the child or young person, before submitting a request form. For Children In Care this is most likely to include the consent of their Social Worker too.
Without consent, your link EP will only be able to hold a consultation with you on a non-named/anonymous basis. Our recommendation is that parents and carers are involved to ensure the process is truly collaborative and holistic.