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We share why EP advice is so valuable to the EHCP process
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Educational Psychologist (EP) advice for an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is not only a statutory requirement. It is pivotal for assessment, advice and evaluation across complex areas of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Tying together education, health and social care ,Educational Psychologists use evidence-based advice to push EHCP outcomes to be ambitious and achievable, improving pupil outcomes.
Educational Psychologist advice is a constant presence when supporting emotional, social and cognitive needs.
We share why EP advice is so valuable to the EHCP process, and the solutions your local authority (LA) is looking for to make the EP assessment and advice process smoother.
Educational Psychologists bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the EHCP process. Teaming with the highly qualified SEND teams in local authorities, EHCP assessment and draft plans are tailored to the individual’s needs.
Educational Psychologists (EPs) don’t just support the child or young person. When quality EP advice is given, a host of stakeholders are impacted.
Educational Psychologists offer advice and support to:
An EP is valuable in many aspects of the EHCP process:
Discover how to write outstanding EHCP outcomes, every time.
An EP’s assessment of a child or young person is comprehensive. They assess the child’s needs using evidence-based theories and expert knowledge to help define and clarify the SEND needs.
They ensure the child’s EHCP EP assessment is under taken across different contexts to gather as much information as possible. For example, an EP will likely observe a child in their classroom and during social times to monitor any observable changes.
EHCP EP assessments can be differentiated to get the most out of the time spent with the child. A child presenting with a Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) profile may require the questions asked to be posed in a way that reduces perceived demand.
See how Cumberland Council have streamlined their EP advice process for the better.
When an EP is involved with the EHCP assessment process, the advice shared helps to enhance the skills and deepens the understanding of all adults involved with the child.
There is a ripple effect when good quality EP advice is shared. The child or young person’s teacher will immediately benefit from the EP’s strategy recommendations.
After developing their understanding, awareness, and knowledge, the teacher (or parents) can then apply this knowledge to other children who may present with similar SEND needs.
Early identification is key. SEN prevalence has dropped by one year—from 10 years old to 9 (2024). Identifying SEND needs early on is a priority noted in the SEND Reforms Green Paper, including spotting complex needs that may present differently.
There has been a significant increase in later-in-life neurodiverse diagnoses. The number of adults diagnosed with Autism and ADHD has continued to rise in recent years. Access to EP advice can help parents identify similarities in their own behaviours and ways of thinking, giving further clarity and confidence to reach out to medical professionals.
Inclusive practice has been a SEND priority underpinning several statutory documents in education, such as the curriculum and the SEND Code of Practice.
The SEND Reform Green Paper notably champions over hauling the current Alternative Provision (AP) offer. Calling for mainstream schools to increase their inclusive practice via increased training and communication with the experts at the APs.
Educational Psychologists can promote inclusive practice through the strategies they suggest in their EP Advice. Guiding teachers to support the child or young person in a way that enables their outcomes to be achieved while ensuring they are included within regular school life.
Inclusive practice can take different forms depending on the setting. A community sixth form college may adopt different strategies than a maintained primary school when ensuring their pupils are included. EPs offer the tailored advice needed to make the SEND provision suitable to the individual’s needs.
EPs are central to the education, health and care system.They join the highly skilled professional network responsible for creating quality EHCPs. When education, health and care professionals combine their skill set, experience and evidence-based advice, longer-term goals can be set.
As educational psychologists have a broad knowledge across all three areas (cognitive, health and social development), they are equipped to work in collaboration with other SEND professionals to create personalisedEHCP advice.
Educational Psychologists are heavily involved in the EHCP process from creation to review. An EHCP review is essential in ensuring that the SEND provision is meeting the needs of the individual and continually evaluating the aspects of the plan that are working well and areas that require improvement.
An EPs role in the monitoring and evaluation process is invaluable. Insights into trusted educational and social theories to underpin suggested strategies ensures EHCPs are created from evidence-based strategies, not subjective opinions.
We provide award-recognised software for local authority SEND teams. Our software’s primary aim is to improve the EHCP quality nationwide, beginning with the EHCP process and Educational Psychologist advice.
Our tools are designed to audit EHCPs and monitor their quality at every point of the process. Using SEND industry standards to immediately review EHCP quality against robust criteria.
Local authorities recommend our tools to neighbouring LAs as the visibility, data access and automation benefits available improve the EHCP involvement at every stage.
‘Looking back, when we first introduced the tool, it was the first time that we could truly monitor outcomes.’
Rebecca Farrell, SEND Quality Improvement Officer, Knowsley Council
Explore our tools:
Educational Psychologist Advice Quality Assurance Tool
Want to learn more about how Invision360 can help you and your local authority? We have a demo for that
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The EHCP Annual Review Process for Local Authorities
Technology as a facilitator of multi-agency collaboration
Case Study: Swindon Borough Council
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