Understanding Your School's Educational Psychology Service

Educational Psychology Services (EPS) exist to help schools create environments where every student can thrive. But what exactly do educational psychologists do, and how can your school access these services?

An educational psychologist is a trained professional who applies psychological science to education. They work with schools across Sussex to identify why some students struggle with learning or behaviour, and develop practical solutions. Unlike clinical psychologists, they focus specifically on educational settings and the learning process itself.

Sussex EPS typically offers a range of support:

• Assessment and diagnosis: Identifying specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, or autism spectrum conditions
• Advice for teachers: Practical strategies to support struggling learners in the classroom
• Consultation: Working with school staff to solve problems affecting groups of students
• Training: Running workshops on topics like managing behaviour, supporting mental health, or inclusive practice
• Direct work with students: Intervention programmes or counselling for individual children with identified needs

Schools don't need to wait for a crisis to access EPS. Many use the service proactively to prevent problems developing. For example, a school might ask an educational psychologist to advise on transition support for Year 6 students moving to secondary school, or to help design a behaviour policy that works for their particular community.

The service is typically accessed through your local authority. Schools in Sussex can request an EP consultation, and the service works within agreed frameworks about response times and the type of support available. Some schools purchase additional sessions beyond their core allocation.

Educational psychologists bring an evidence-based approach to the challenges schools face. Rather than offering quick fixes, they help schools understand the root causes of difficulties and develop sustainable strategies. This might involve looking at classroom environment, teacher-student relationships, curriculum design, or home factors affecting a child's learning.

If you're a parent, you might encounter EPS through your school's referral process if your child is identified as needing additional support. If you're a teacher, EPS can be an invaluable resource when you're unsure how to help a particular student. If you're a school leader, regular engagement with your EPS can help you develop whole-school approaches to inclusion and wellbeing.

The key thing to understand is that educational psychology isn't about labelling children or removing them from mainstream education. It's about understanding individual needs and removing barriers to learning so that every student can access education effectively.