Educational Psychology Service

Our team works with nurseries, schools, colleges, and children and young people aged 0 to 25 who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

We use psychology to help with:

  • learning
  • communication
  • physical and sensory needs
  • social and emotional skills for independence

Most children and young people with SEND will have their needs met through their nursery, school or college. This could be from trained staff, or the staff might get advice from external agencies, such as specialist teachers.

Sometimes, an educational psychologist is asked to help.

Our team

All our qualified educational psychologists are registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC). This is a national body that checks health and care professionals are safe and skilled.

We have trainee educational psychologists (TEPs) and assistant educational psychologists (AsEPs). They are supervised by experienced educational psychologists. TEPs are training to become educational psychologists and work with us on placement.

We also have associate educational psychologists, who are registered with the HCPC. They help our team deliver services to schools.

How we work

Schools and colleges

We support schools and colleges through group meetings for special educational needs coordinators (SENCOs).

Lancashire is divided into 12 districts. Each district has an educational psychologist meeting every half term.

These meetings help schools with wider (systemic) challenges and offer training, action planning, and group problem-solving.

Early years providers, childminders, and parents of under 5s

We run workshops for practitioners and parents, group consultations, and targeted support.

We support early years providers (such as nurseries) and childminders through online group consultations. These focus on problem-solving and provision.

We also hold parent carer workshops in the evenings. They cover child development and practical strategies.

Training packages for education providers

We provide:

  • training for teaching assistants to support children’s emotional wellbeing
  • emotional based school avoidance (EBSA) training for school staff

Statutory role

We provide psychological advice when the local authority requests it as part of education, health, and care needs assessments (EHCNAs) and other statutory processes.

Research and evaluation

We plan, carry out, and review research to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

Accessing the service

If you think an educational psychologist could help, speak to your:

  • key worker (nursery)
  • class teacher (primary)
  • form tutor/head of year (secondary)

They may talk to the setting SENCO, who can attend our group meetings for support.

Area offices

If you would like more information about the Educational Psychology Service, contact your area office:

  • Lancaster, Morecambe, Fylde and Wyre
    Tel: 01524 581 200
  • Preston, South Ribble, Chorley and West Lancashire
    Tel: 01772 531 597
  • Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale
    Tel: 01282 470 604

Schools and early years professionals

See the information for professionals.