How the work of the EPS is funded and delivered
The Educational Psychology Service is funded by Devon County Council (DCC) to provide core aspects of our service delivery, for example to provide psychological advice as part of an education, health and care needs assessment. We are also funded to undertake specific tasks, such as supporting schools in the event of a critical incident.
For schools that have opted in to our early intervention (traded) services we are able to offer DCC funded School Review Consultations . These meetings provide an opportunity to problem-solve key priorities and challenges linked to SEND with an Educational Psychologist and other partners.
School Review Consultation Meetings will be used to:
- Consider and problem-solve whole school priorities and challenges linked to SEND.
- Consider effective, evidence-based interventions and support at the individual, group, staff, whole-school, or community level.
- Bring anonymised situations for immediate problem-solving.
- Unpick the needs of vulnerable groups and agree an action plan.
- Plan the focus of any additional EP Psychology Works consultation, supervision and training (traded work).
Statutory assessment
Most children’s needs will be well met within the ordinarily available inclusive provision and targeted provision within schools. For some children with significant and persistent needs, more joint assessment and planning may be needed via an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA).
The Educational Psychology Service is commissioned to provide assessment and advice as part of an EHCNA.
Critical incident support
The EP service provides support to schools and settings following a sudden and unexpected traumatic event which may overwhelm usual coping mechanisms.
Further information can be found in our critical incident pack.
Educational Psychology Service traded services – purchased by schools and settings
The EPS offers traded services to schools that express an interest in working with us. Primary schools can purchase up to two days of EP traded services per year. Secondary schools can purchase up to four days of EP traded services per year.
This time can be used for: Psychology Works consultation, training and supervision.
Psychology Works Consultation
Read more here about the Psychology Works consultation support.
Training
The Educational Psychology Service can deliver training on many subjects to meet the needs of a range of audiences and settings. Training can be delivered to groups of staff, individual schools and/or MATS and federations. The training can be designed to meet the specific requirements of the setting.
Examples of training include – Using Relational Approaches, Executive functioning in the classroom and Understanding Emotionally Based School Avoidance.
Supervision
The EP Service can support schools and settings to promote staff wellbeing via psychologically informed staff supervision. Providing effective supervision can build resilience and wellbeing and support effective problem-solving and decision-making, which in turn promotes positive outcomes for children and young people.