Each of our Educational Psychologist’s cover an area of
Peterborough and are responsible for providing a service for the
children living there.
We have knowledge and experience of:
- How children and young people learn and what they may be
expected to learn
- Different schools and how they work to support children and
young people with special educational needs
- A wide range of special educational needs
- How national laws affect provision and services for children
and young people with special educational needs.
We work with children and young people in the 0-19 age range who
may have difficulties in one or more areas, such as:
- General development and learning
- Communication and language (e.g. speaking, listening and
writing)
- Physical skills
- Relationships
- Hearing or vision
- Medical problems which affect learning.
If your child’s early year’s practitioner or nursery teacher
feels it would be helpful to involve an Educational Psychologist in
planning to meet your child’s needs, they will discuss this with
you. We would only become involved if you had given your
permission, but you may want to discuss this with us first.
If we become involved with your child, the Educational
Psychologist may:
- Visit you and your child at home
- Talk and listen to you, and others who already know your child
(such as nursery staff, early year’s practitioner and speech
therapists)
- Observe your child in familiar surroundings, such as nursery or
playgroup
- Work with your child.
We use all this information to understand your child’s needs. We
can then advise those working with your child on setting
appropriate targets and we may be involved in helping to plan for
your child starting school.
When necessary we will use an interpreter, e.g. when English is
not the family’s first language.
When we write a report about your child, we will only copy it to
people who need the information in order to help your child, and
when it is in your child’s best interests. We will always give you
a copy of any such report, and you may of course copy it to others
if you wish.
We are always involved in the detailed assessment of the
educational needs of children and young people with longer term
difficulties. For a small number of children and young people this
may include providing advice for statutory assessment which may
then lead to a Statement of special educational needs.
We link up with other people who may be involved with children
and young people, such as support teachers, attendance welfare
officers, Connexions officers, medical staff and social
workers.
We run training courses and projects, and produce materials for
parents, teachers or others who work with children and young
people. We give advice to the Local Authority on child development
and learning.
Where can you find us?
The way to get in touch with us is through your child’s school
or nursery. If your child has not yet started school, people who
are involved like your child’s early year’s teacher, doctor or
health visitor, may contact us.
If you are not sure how to get help you can telephone the
consultation line which is available Tuesday mornings (term time
only) 8.30am to 12.30pm – 01733 863690.