Educational Psychology What s it all about?

Transcription

1 Educational Psychology What s it all about? Dr Caroline Casey, Dr Catherine Kitchen (Educational Psychologists) and Danielle Goodall (Trainee Educational Psychologist) Education Inclusion Service (EIS), East Riding of Yorkshire Council

2 Discussion 0If you could ask an Educational Psychologist any three questions, what would you ask?

3 What is the role of an EP 0 Work mainly in schools with children of all ages 0 Help to find solutions to improve the learning outcomes and social and emotional development of children/young people. 0 Most effective when working with the adults involved with the child/young person 0 In addition to this the EP may decide to carry out observations and/or individual work with the child/young person e.g. assessments and gaining the pupils views. 0 Aim to support adults in understanding the child s/young persons needs and planning the best way to help them make progress.

4 What s good about being an EP? 0 Apply psychology 0 Exciting 0 Variety/breadth 0 Challenging 0 Diverse work with children and young people 0 Observations 0 Discussions 0 Assessments 0 Interventions 0 Group work 0 Diverse work with adults 0 Teachers 0 Parents 0 Other agencies (Social Workers, Health etc.)

5 What type of skills are required? 0 Effective communicator (verbal and written) 0 Good at building a rapport children/young people and adults 0 Flexible 0 Ability to prioritise and manage work 0 Collaborative working 0 Reflective practitioner

6 What is a typical week? Mon Morning Secondary School Visit to pupil referral unit Afternoon Home visit for a pre-schooler Tue Primary School Primary School Wed Autism panel Primary School Thurs Multi-agency meeting for child at risk of exclusion School staff training Office admin (report writing, liaison, preparation, s) Team meeting Office admin Fri Special school Group work in a secondary school

7 Discussion 0What different methods do Educational Psychologists use to assess children and young people s needs?

8 Training 0 Three year Doctorate training course 0 12 universities in Britain offer the training. 0 Closest institutions to Hull are Sheffield, Manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham. 0 Applications are made online through the National College for Teaching and Leadership application system. 0 Able to choose three universities in a single application

9 Doctor of Educational and Child Psychology (DEdCPsy) at Sheffield 0 Year 1: Full time attendance at University- 14,400 0 Year 2: University and bursary within LA- 16,000 0 Year 3: University and bursary within LA- 16,000

10 Entry Requirements for Training Course 0 Good Honours Degree in Psychology, or equivalent, giving GBR (Graduate Basis for Registration) 0 Relevant experience working with children within educational, childcare or community settings (min of one to two years full time) What counts as relevant experience?

11 Relevant Experience 0Teacher 0Teaching assistant 0Assistant educational psychologist 0Social worker 0Behaviour support worker 0Early years worker 0Youth work 0Assistant speech and language therapist 0Voluntary work

12 Most Importantly Courses will primarily be interested in: 0 What applicants have learnt from their experiences that is relevant to work as an EP 0 How they have been able to apply their knowledge of psychology gained through first degrees (British Psychological Society, December 2005)

13 What can you do if you re interested in a career as an EP? 0 Firstly do a degree in Psychology 0 Then get relevant experience working with children 0 Think about how you apply psychology in your job 0 Consider choosing a relevant research project in your third year undergraduate degree 0 Keep up to date with what is going on in education (e.g. the Times Educational Supplement) 0 Keep up to date with psychology (e.g. The Psychologist) 0 Find out about Educational Psychology (shadowing, speaking to EPs about role etc.) 0 Go to university open days

14 Questions

15 Useful Websites 0 The Department for Education 0 The British Psychological Society 0 The Psychologist 0 The Association of Educational Psychologists