Educational Psychology Service

What is the purpose of the Educational Psychology Service?

The Educational Psychology Service supports teachers, parents and carers, where there is concern about pupils' educational development and/or behaviour in school. It is a local authority service which is offered to all schools in Aberdeen City. The Educational Psychology Service is located within the Education, Culture and Sport service of Aberdeen City Council.

What do Educational Psychologists do?

They carry out a variety of tasks which include:

• Consulting with teachers about any concerns they have about pupils' progress.
• Observation in the classroom or playground.
• Consulting with pupils about their concerns to ensure their views are included in planning.
• Working with teachers, parents and carers to identify difficulties and plan and review strategies to tackle them.
• Identifying additional support needs and advising parents and carers and the education authority about how best to meet these needs.
• Liaising with colleagues in education, health, social work and careers service to help ensure we are all working together.
• Working with teachers and groups of pupils or whole classes to help all pupils in the school. for example: paired reading; playground projects; peer mediation; circles of friends.
• Giving advice and providing assessments to the Reporter to the Children's Hearing system.
• Assisting the local authority in research and developing policy in relation to education, National Priorities and children with additional support needs.

How do Educational Psychologists provide a service?

• Every school has an identified Educational Psychologist who visits on a regular basis.
• The school staff decide which concerns they want to discuss with the Educational Psychologist and this can happen without a particular child's identity being known to the Educational Psychologist.
• If it is agreed that a particular problem needs to be looked at in more detail, the school will discuss this with the parents or carers and obtain their agreement for the Educational Psychologist to be involved.
• The Educational Psychologist may become involved in group or whole school projects to improve learning and/or behaviour.

What if a parent or carer has a concern about a child's learning and/or behaviour in school?

• Parents or carers should discuss any concern in the first instance with their child's Teacher/ Guidance Teacher or Head Teacher.
• In many cases the Teacher will be able to deal with the concern. The school may decide to consult the Educational Psychologist informally.
• If concerns continue the Teacher may seek the agreement of parents or carers for further involvement from the Educational Psychologist. 

Educational Psychology Service structure

Please click on the link to see the   Educational Psychology Service structure

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