Working with the Educational Psychology Service

Delivery of the Educational Psychology Service

Each setting is typically assigned a named EPS practitioner for the academic year. All commissioned work, including reports, assessments, multi-agency liaison, contact with families and preparation is chargeable, including off-site tasks.

Support may be delivered in person or virtually in line with council safety protocols. EPS staff follow organisational risk assessments and may share their own with settings if needed.

EPS practitioners aim to produce written reports, records of consultation and action plans within four weeks of their final contact. These will be shared securely via Egress with the commissioning school and those named in the request for support as having parental responsibility.

For those aged 18+, reports go directly to the young person and the organisation.

Support is spread evenly across the academic year and agreed during the planning meeting. We will try to cover short-term absences. Longer term absence may have to be reflected in a reduction in charges unless other cover arrangements can be made by the EPS.

If the EPS cancels training, a refund or new date may be offered. Cancellations made by schools with less than 48 hours notice are chargeable.

Essential criteria for service delivery

To access support from the EPS, the child or young person must be between birth and 25 years of age and enrolled in an early years setting, school, or college.

A planning meeting will be arranged with the SENCO to agree priorities. Referrals must only come from organisations and not individuals, parents or carers.

Initial concerns over young people from staff, parents, or professionals should be discussed with the setting’s SENCO who may liaise with the EPS and request involvement if appropriate.

EPS involvement with individual children and young people requires informed and signed consent either from those with parental responsibility and/or from the young person, as appropriate.

Once consent is received, a secure and confidential electronic file will be created for the pupil.

Consent forms must be submitted at least five working days before a scheduled visit. If it is not received in time, the visit may be cancelled and the time still charged.

Nature of the service provided through commissioning

The EPS supports inclusion, psychological well-being, and academic progress across all age groups and abilities.

West Northamptonshire EPS uses a consultation-based model and works at the following levels:

EPS Responsibilities

The EPS ensures all assessment and intervention practices meet the standards set by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).

As local authority employees, EPS management guarantees that all practitioners have passed necessary pre-employment checks.

West Northamptonshire EPS follows Safer Recruitment practices and all staff:

• are appropriately qualified for their roles
• have enhanced DBS checks for regulated activities
• carry council-issued photo ID badges
• are covered by council insurance
• complete mandatory training in safeguarding and data protection

EPS staff operate under the procedures of the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Partnership and will act accordingly when safeguarding concerns arise.

Responsibilities of schools and settings

To make the most efficient use of EPS commissioned time, the school/setting should:

• assign a senior staff member to coordinate the EPS activity
• arrange appointments and encourage pupil and parent/carer participation
• ensure that all those with parental responsibility have given consent to the involvement of the EPS practitioner and that consent forms are completed and returned at least five working days before visits
• provide access to children and young people, staff, records and a quiet working space
• prepare pupils for EPS involvement
• notify the EPS of absences promptly including as soon as possible on the day of the absence if an EPS practitioner is due to visit
• support collaborative assessment by sharing relevant data

Billing

Schools are billed annually:

• 7/12 of the cost in the autumn term
• 5/12 of the cost in the summer term

Feedback

If the organisation is unhappy with any aspect of the services provided by the EPS, discussions should occur with the EPS practitioner in the first instance.

If unresolved, the matter can be escalated to the practitioner’s senior educational psychologist and then to the principal educational psychologist if needed.

If you need to contact the West Northamptonshire Educational Psychology Service, please email us at [email protected].

Our address is:

West Northamptonshire Council Educational Psychology Service
One Angel Square
Angel Street
Northampton
NN1 1ED

Last updated 01 September 2025