Information for Parents and Carers

What we do

Educational Psychologists work mostly in schools helping to find solutions to improve the learning, social and emotional environment for all children and young people.  We work in partnership with children, young people, parents, teachers, other services and voluntary organisations.

• Initially, when there is a concern about a child in school the class teacher will try different strategies to help. If these strategies do not make a significant improvement then other supports in school e.g. Support for Learning teaching will be tried. If the concern persists then the school may wish to talk to the Educational Psychologist but not share the child's identity 
• However, if the concern continues the school may ask the Educational Psychologist to carry out an assessment, work directly with the school staff on management ideas or work directly with the child e.g.counselling.  Assessment is an ongoing process and depends on the individual needs of the child. It can be in the form of gathering information from the important people in the child or young person's life, an observation in class, using assessment materials or talking directly with the child or young person. Follow the links here for more detailed information on the Highland Council's Educational Psychologists' role with pupils or young people with dyslexia, AD/HD or autistic spectrum conditions .
• Additionally, the Educational Psychologist might also be asked to attend a Solution Focused Meeting (Stage Three) where all the key people, including the carers/parents and often the child or young person work together to find solutions.

Requesting Assistance from the Service

A request for assistance to an Educational Psychologist does not always need to be from the school but can be anyone who knows the child or young person well.  Before the Educational Psychologist can become involved the parents'/carers' permission needs to be given.

Confidentiality

All Psychological Service staff are bound by a code of conduct which respects confidentiality and the rights of the individual. The British Psychological Society site has more details about our code of ethics.