Educational psychology

Educational Psychologists specialise in children and their learning, wellbeing and wider development. We work directly or indirectly with children and young people. We also provide advice to parents and other adults who teach and support children.

The Educational Psychology team offers the following services:

  • Observations
  • Assessments, including statutory psychological assessments for children and young people in Herefordshire as part of the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process
  • Support for children and young people without an EHCP that can be paid for by schools
  • School referrals where school staff/parents feel a child needs the involvement of an Educational Psychologist (Referrals are not accepted directly from parents and must be completed by a staff member.)
  • Training

Critical incidents guidance

The Educational Psychology team have produced a critical incidents guidelines document to assist head teachers and school staff to deal effectively with critical incidents in schools.

The guidelines have been written to take account of recent incidents and to provide schools with guidance and support information on how such incidents may be handled.

This ranges from initial planning, through to immediate handling and reporting of an incident, to the after effects and how these can be handled with sensitivity and care.

Our training offer for schools

We offer training to meet your needs for:

Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)

Find out more about Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) in the Herefordshire Educational Psychology Service guide for primary and secondary schools. If you are interested in twilight training on EBSA contact Kamran Khan at kamran.khan2@herefordshire.gov.uk. Twilight training on EBSA typically costs £50 per person.

Senior Mental Health Lead (SMHL) training

Herefordshire Educational Psychology Service has devised a 3 day training programme accredited by the DfE to allow you or one of your leadership team to become your nominated Senior Mental Health Lead (SMHL).

The programme is pitched at an intermediate level and combines information on a wide range of mental health difficulties experienced by our children and young people, as well as information on local needs, services and referral processes. More importantly, professionals from local mental health services join us to explain their roles and perspective. If you join this course you will become part of a network of local SMHLs who meet with us termly to discuss our work, share resources and support each other.

The course focuses on how you can develop the mental health and wellbeing across the whole school climate to the benefit of staff, parents and pupils. The role is suited to someone who will be able to inspire others to join them on this journey.

Course format and cost

The course typically begins with a full day at the council offices, followed by multiple half-day sessions delivered online and finishing with a final face to face half-day session.

The course costs £800. The course code is: 115; it is an intermediate level course. This is fully funded by the DfE through a grant of £1200 to pay for senior mental health leads "senior lead" training. We will not charge you until you have claimed the grant. Use the link below to check eligibility and apply.

Apply for Senior mental health lead training grant

Contact kamran.khan2@herefordshire.gov.uk directly to enquire about future dates for Senior Mental Health Lead training.

Other training courses available

Please contact kamran.khan2@herefordshire.gov.uk to enquire about the following training for staff:

  • Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) training for teaching assistants
  • The Teenage Brain: Understanding brain development in adolescence and why it matters in school
  • Kindness and Happiness workshops for children
  • Childhood Trauma and Building Resilience: How children are affected by trauma and what to do in school
  • Working Memory
  • PACE Approach
  • Executive Functioning Skills
  • Emotion Coaching

Herefordshire Educational Psychology Service

Members of Herefordshire Educational Psychology Service can be contacted by phone.

Telephone: 01432 261584