Oxfordshire County Council Educational Psychology Service

Educational Psychologists (EP) support the rights of children and young people. We promote equal opportunities and are sensitive to the gender, ethnic, linguistic and cultural background of the child and family as well as to the emotional well-being and developmental levels of the child.

The EPS is committed to valuing diversity and challenging racism. Through ongoing learning, proactive awareness raising, empathy and reflection we aim to be effective allies to people who experience discrimination or racism.

We have a responsibility for safeguarding and for all children who are vulnerable within education including children and young people the local authority cares for. The Educational Psychology Service promotes the well-being and learning of children and young people. We work with children, parents, teachers,  schools and settings  to improve outcomes for children and young people so that they make progress, enjoy their time in education and are prepared for adulthood.

All EPs are registered as practitioner psychologists with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) and abide by the Code of Conduct of the British Psychological Society (BPS).

What we do:
Educational Psychologists are highly skilled professionals who help people to understand how they think, feel, learn and behave. We work with children and young people aged 0-25 in a range of settings, including nurseries, mainstream schools, special schools and colleges. Our work can be undertaken at the individual, class or whole-school level.

We work with children and young people who may be experiencing difficulties in their learning, behaviour, social interaction, communication, emotional well-being, physical or sensory skills. Our work includes:

• Talking to children. We may ask them about their feelings, friendships and what they think is working well.
• Assessing difficulties children may be having with their learning and wellbeing.
• Working with young people, schools and families to identify clear and achievable outcomes to enable the child or young person to make progress.
• Working in partnership with parents and schools in the best interests of the child.
• Providing advice and training on how schools might help children to learn and develop.
• Advising schools on teaching approaches and improvements that can be made to learning environments.
• Supporting schools to set up/implement interventions. 
• Provide support following critical incidents.

Educational psychologists keep up-to-date with best practice, national guidance and research relating to how children learn and make sure this informs local policy and practice.

Contact details:
The link Educational Psychologist (EP) for the school is the initial point of contact, please discuss your concerns with the school SENCO if you think your child or a young person needs to access the service.

The Educational Psychology Service Principal Educational Psychologist is Catherine Roderick catherine.roderick@oxfordshire.gov.uk tel no: 07825274103

There are 3 area teams (north, central and south):

Caroline Rendell, Joint Senior Educational Psychologists South, Email: caroline.rendell@oxfordshire.gov.uk 

Anne-Marie Baverstock, Joint Senior Educational Psychologists South, Email  annemarie.baverstock@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Jess Chiappella , Senior Educational Psychologist, email jessamine.chiappella@oxfordshire.gov.uk tel  07770582646

Kathryn Davidson, Senior Educational Psychologist  North, Email: kathryn.davidson@oxfordshire.gov.uk  Tel : 07584 909498

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Who is this service for?
Many children and young people will experience difficulties at some point during their education and may benefit from help with certain skills; most of these children will have been identified as having Special Educational Needs. Where concern persists in these areas despite appropriate learning opportunities and intervention, Educational Psychologists (EPs) bring a psychological perspective to improve learning and well-being.

The Educational Psychology Service is available to Oxfordshire Schools on a traded basis. Parents who have concerns about their child’s progress should discuss this with the school SENCO in the first instance. 

Educational Psychologists also fulfil a statutory role for Oxfordshire County Council which includes:

• Completing the psychological advice for an Education and Health Care assessments ( EHC)   for children and young people aged 0-25. 
• Acting as the Education Monitoring Officer (EMO) for children and young people in out of county provision.
• Participating in tribunal (SENDIST) work as required
• Responding to critical incidents.