What is Educational Psychology?

Educational Psychologists are specially trained professionals who use consultation, observation and assessment to explore how children and young people’s development, behaviour and emotions affect their learning. Our Educational Psychologists help children and young people overcome barriers that affect their chances of being successful learners. We provide a service that moves beyond a one-off assessment and can offer ongoing follow-up advice and reviews for parents and/or schools, which could include workshops and training.  Support is also available via our sister organisation, the London Autism Service.  

Who can benefit from seeing an Educational Psychologist?

There are several reasons why your child or young person would find it helpful to see an Educational Psychologist.  These might include:

• Finding it difficult to keep up with their peers in classroom learning and homework.

• Having a specific learning difficulty such as literacy or numeracy. 

• Having a poor memory or difficulties retaining information.

• Struggling to concentrate and pay attention in class.

• Finding it hard to regulate their emotions (may appear anxious, tearful or frustrated).

• Struggling to make and maintain friendships and understand social rules.

• Needing access arrangements for examinations.

Educational Psychology Assessments

Educational Psychology assessments can be commissioned by parents or schools for a variety of reasons. It is important to consider each child as an individual, which means that it is normal for the assessment process to vary slightly for each child. The process will always start with a one-hour initial consultation between the Educational Psychologist and parents/carers. This allows for an in-depth discussion about your child’s developmental history, their strengths and your concerns. The cost for this is £180.

Next steps will be agreed together. A full assessment, at a fee of £1000, comprises either of the following: a session of about three hours spent at the Family Treatment Service, during which the Educational Psychologist will talk with your child and use appropriate assessment tools to gain an insight into their thinking and learning skills. For others, the Educational Psychologist may suggest a school visit of about three hours, incorporating a classroom/playground observation, as well as one to one time with your child and contact with their teacher/s. The service will also send a questionnaire to you and to your child’s school, which provides the Educational Psychologist with important information.

The full assessment also incorporates verbal feedback. Within three weeks you will receive a written report, detailing the background information, the assessment and suggestions and recommendations for supporting your child. The report can be shared with your child’s school or prospective schools. 

During the initial consultation, you and your Educational Psychologist might agree that a full assessment is not the most helpful next step for your child at this time. However, our Educational Psychologists are able to offer bespoke consultations with parents and/or with the school, which in themselves can support meaningful change for children experiencing barriers to their learning. Bespoke consultations are charged on an hourly basis.

What can an Educational Psychology assessment offer at The Family Treatment Service?

• Listening to and exploring the views of the child/young person around their experience.

• A holistic approach to gathering information from a range of environments where the child/young person is experiencing difficulties and successes.

• Identifying, understanding and supporting learning and behavioural differences.

• Offering suggestions and guidance to parents and teachers about what they can do to support the child/young person’s progress.

• Advising parents and teachers on ways to adapt the learning environment and the curriculum to meet the child/young person’s full potential.

Educational psychologists are able to work with children with a range of profiles, including those with: 

• Learning difficulties and delays across many areas of the curriculum

• Reading, spelling and writing difficulties. 

• Maths difficulties.

• Attention and concentration difficulties, including those already diagnosed with Attention Deficit and (Hyperactivity) Disorder (ADHD and ADD). 

• Executive function difficulties such as memory, planning and organisation, processing and emotional regulation.

• Anxiety, self-esteem and confidence issues.

• Social communication and autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) – please see www.londonautismservice.com.

What to expect

An Educational Psychology assessment at the Family Treatment Service will include observations, assessments and consultations. You will receive a detailed written report of your child or young person’s strengths and difficulties, which can be shared with their school. The report will also include recommendations and suggested strategies for supporting your child or young person at school and will be discussed with parents during verbal feedback. Our educational psychologists are also able to offer bespoke consultations to parents and schools, which in themselves can support meaningful change for children experiencing barriers to their learning. Bespoke consultations are charged on an hourly basis. They can also be requested following a full assessment, for example to create a support plan with the school or to review a child’s progress. The Educational Psychologist may sometimes suggest further assessments by a professional with different expertise, such as a Speech and Language Therapist, Clinical Psychologist, Family Therapist, Occupational Therapist or Paediatrician.