Nottingham City Educational Psychology Service

Educational Psychologists (EPs) in the Early Years

Educational Psychologists - what do they do?Educational Psychologists or EP’s work across the PVI and the maintained sector to support the wellbeing and development of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, or Social and Emotional Needs to ensure progress and to enable the children to meet their full potential.

When would you refer to an Educational Psychologist (EP)?Referrals to EPs would be appropriate when:

The child has complex Special Educational Needs or Disabilities including Autism, Down’s Syndrome or Learning difficulties

The child is receiving Early Years SEND or Higher Level Needs Funding The child’s primary need is Social and Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) The child is attending an Early Years setting where staff are finding it difficult to meet the child’s

needs and need extra support

Enabling Positive Change Using psychology to bring people and ideas together.

Nottingham City Educational Psychology Service

The child’s placement at the Early Years setting may be at risk of breaking downPlease Note: Referrals will also be accepted for children who have complex Special Educational Need’s and Disabilities where the family may be struggling to meet the child’s needs or where the family situation is complex (for example, if Social Care are involved)

An Educational Psychologist can support by:

Meeting with setting staff/other Early Years workers and parents to discuss a child’s needs Putting a plan together to support the child to make progress Jointly working with staff from other services such as EY SEND workers or other Early Years

workers Share information with other professionals Observe/assess a child in surroundings familiar to them such as Early Years settings or at

home Play or work with a child individually or in a small group Support staff to set targets and review progress Contribute to a detailed assessment of a child’s needs over time Provide written records or reports and if appropriate, provide the Local Authority with advice

as part of the Statutory Assessment of theyour child’s Special Educational Needs for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP))

Enabling Positive Change Using psychology to bring people and ideas together.

Nottingham City Educational Psychology Service

Enabling Positive Change Using psychology to bring people and ideas together.

Nottingham City Educational Psychology Service

Routes of Referral for the Early Years Educational Psychologists

Enabling Positive Change Using psychology to bring people and ideas together.

Nottingham City Educational Psychology Service

Enabling Positive Change Using psychology to bring people and ideas together.

EY SEND Home Visiting Team

EY SEND worker is working with a child who has complex SENDs. They would like a second opinion/psychological view on

child's needs

EY SEND worker gains consent for EP invovlement from family and

completes EY SEND Referral Pathway Form

EY SEP allocates case to EY EP/places on allocation waiting list, if criteria are

met

EYFS SEND Setting Support Team

Setting support worker has been supporting a setting re child with SEND and/or SEMH (e.g. through

Solution Circle process, observations, advice)

Setting support worker recommends that the setting/family/child need

further indepth support to maintain the child's placement. Family

situation may be complex.

Setting make referral to the Educational Psychologist through the

EY SEND Referral Pathway Form

EY SEP allocates case/places on allocation waiting list, if criteria are

met.

Learning Support Teaching/Autism/Sensory Team

Team has been supporting a child with complex SEND in a setting.

Team recommends that further indepth support may be needed to aid

maintenance of EY placement. There may also be complex family circumstances.

Setting obtains consent from parents (this can be verbal/written consent)

Team notifies EY SEP who allocates case/places on allocation waiting list,

if criteria are met.

Early Years Settings

Child with complex needs (including SEMH) attending setting. Has HLN. Setting are still struggling to meet needs despite extra support and

strategies. Family situation may be complex.

EY setting make referral to the Educational Psychology Service

through the EY SEND Referral Pathway Form.

EY SEP allocates case/places on allocation waiting list, if criteria are

met

Nottingham City Educational Psychology Service

Enabling Positive Change Using psychology to bring people and ideas together.

EY SEND Home Visiting Team

EY SEND worker is working with a child who has complex SENDs. They would like a second opinion/psychological view on

child's needs

EY SEND worker gains consent for EP invovlement from family and

completes EY SEND Referral Pathway Form

EY SEP allocates case to EY EP/places on allocation waiting list, if criteria are

met

EYFS SEND Setting Support Team

Setting support worker has been supporting a setting re child with SEND and/or SEMH (e.g. through

Solution Circle process, observations, advice)

Setting support worker recommends that the setting/family/child need

further indepth support to maintain the child's placement. Family

situation may be complex.

Setting make referral to the Educational Psychologist through the

EY SEND Referral Pathway Form

EY SEP allocates case/places on allocation waiting list, if criteria are

met.

Learning Support Teaching/Autism/Sensory Team

Team has been supporting a child with complex SEND in a setting.

Team recommends that further indepth support may be needed to aid

maintenance of EY placement. There may also be complex family circumstances.

Setting obtains consent from parents (this can be verbal/written consent)

Team notifies EY SEP who allocates case/places on allocation waiting list,

if criteria are met.

Early Years Settings

Child with complex needs (including SEMH) attending setting. Setting are still struggling to meet needs despite extra support and strategies. Family

situation may be complex.

EY setting make referral to the Educational Psychology Service throught the EY SEND Referral

Pathway Form.

EY SEP allocates case/places on allocation waiting list, if criteria are

met