Scottish Division of Educational Psychology

Educational Psychologists in Scotland aim to improve the life chances of all.  In fulfilling this aim the role of the educational psychologist is varied in regard the activities engaged in, the focus of work and the populations being worked with/alongside.  This variability is one of the frequently cited reasons why Educational Psychologists in Scotland enjoy their job. 

The work of Educational Psychologists is extensive, covering mainstream and special sectors relating to teaching and learning, behaviour and development. Work is carried out with, or for children and young people aged 0-24 years, parents and carers, educational establishments, education management, as well as a range of agencies, such as social work services and health.

All Educational Psychologists are expected to conform to the standards exemplified in The BPS (British Psychological Society) Code of Ethics and Conduct (2009). Educational psychologists must also be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). 

• Find out more about registering with the HCPC

The majority of Educational Psychologists working in Scotland are employed by the Local Authority Educational Psychology Service or Psychological Service. There is a statutory duty on every education authority in Scotland to provide a psychological service for their area.  Educational Psychology Services contribute to local and national priorities.  Broad aims of services include enhancing social inclusion, social and emotional well-being of young people and families, and raising attainment. 

The 5 core functions of a Psychological Service were defined by the SEED as:

1. Assessment
2. Consultation
3. Intervention
4. Research
5. Training

• Read the Review of Provision of Educational Psychology Services in Scotland, 2002 (Currie Report)

Furthermore, the core functions performed by Educational Psychologists were identified as being carried out at the following levels:

• Child and Family
• Educational Authority/Council/National
• School or Establishment

Assessment

Assessment is a process that involves the gathering of information from a variety of sources in a range of settings over a period of time. It necessarily involves parents, carers, teachers, and children and young people. The purpose of assessment is to inform future intervention and therefore it encompasses cognitive, emotional and social factors. The ultimate aim of effective Educational Psychology assessment is to limit the effects of barriers to learning and to promote inclusion of the child or young person. Assessment may be based on direct or indirect involvement with the child and by a combination of both. Information gathered from others may be supplemented by approaches including classroom observation, analysis or work, questionnaires, curriculum-based assessment and use of recognised assessment tools where appropriate. Educational Psychologists in Scotland operate in accordance with current practice as summarised in Educational Psychology Assessment in Scotland (2014), compiled on behalf of ASPEP (Association of Principal Educational Psychologists) and SDEP) the Scottish Division of Educational Psychology).

Consultation

Educational Psychologists provide a wide range of advice and consultancy to service users and educational establishments. They advise and support education management in relation to children and young people with additional support needs. Consultation around individual or groups of children and young people has the aim of promoting inclusion for all. Many Educational Psychology Services work through a consultation model of service delivery, which is a collaborative, preventative, problem solving approach. By working with and through the main people involved, in order to facilitate change, Educational Psychologists use psychology to empower others to solve problems.

Intervention

Educational Psychologists offer a wide range of evidence-informed interventions to service users in relation to individual, or groups of, children and young people with additional support needs. Effective interventions aim to foster collaborative working and the sharing of professional skills.

Examples of interventions carried out by Educational Psychologists include: contributions to local-authority wide interventions (solution-oriented approaches, motivated schools, alternatives to exclusion, promoting inclusion), contribution to whole establishment interventions (raising achievement, anti-bullying, promoting positive playgrounds), contribution to devising behaviour management and individual education plans and working with small groups. 

Intervention methods are based on best practice and conform to the British Psychological Society's Code of Ethics and Conduct. Interventions are carefully planned and implemented on the basis of agreed action plans. They are designed to be effective but also minimal, unobtrusive, efficient and equitable, and should co-ordinate with work being done by colleagues from other professions.

Research

A growing area of the Educational Psychologists core work is that of research. Research is a main strand of all psychology disciplines and an Educational Psychologist's training has a large focus on experimental design both in clinical and real world settings, research methodologies, data collection and analysis. Working within education, Educational Psychologists are in a key position to support and carry out research to evolve an evidence base for educational practice, inform policy and strategy, explore new ideas and to evaluate and encourage reflective practice.

Training

Educational Psychologists are well placed to offer and support training to a range of service providers and educational establishments. Training offers an opportunity for educational psychologists to support others in linking research and psychological theory with practice. Educational Psychologists have knowledge of learning, behaviour and development of children and young people as well as an understanding of the systems they are working in including the local and national contexts and policy and legislative frameworks. Training should be based on assessment of the needs of the learners to identify the most appropriate training and the most suitable way of conveying information. It should be evaluated and followed-up in order to facilitate the utilisation of newly acquired information and skills in practice.

Work Carried out by Educational Psychologists

The majority of Local Authority Educational Psychology Services have websites which provide more specific details about the work carried out locally, and the structure of the Service.  A number of Services highlight the following as being central to the practice of Educational Psychologists:

• Adopting a child-centred approach
• Adopting a "most effective, least intrusive" approach to assessment and intervention
• Collaboration – with other professionals, families and children and young people
• Confidentiality and ethics
• Promoting and enhancing effective learning and teaching
• Promoting and enhancing emotional / psychological well-being
• Promoting social justice
• Promoting and supporting inclusion for all
• Supporting children and young people to achieve their potential
• Supporting children and young people to fulfill the goals of Curriculum for Excellence
• The use of evidence to inform and innovate

Examples of Educational Psychology practice include:

• Building resilience in children
• Community psychology approaches
• Enhancing emotional wellbeing and emotional literacy
• Supporting the development of nurturing approaches and inclusion
• Supporting vulnerable learners with transitions
• Thinking skills work around mindsets
• Use of positive psychology in interventions
• Working to support difficulties in relation to attachment and loss
• WOWW: working on what works, to improve classroom behaviour and relationships

Accredited courses & training programmes

Accreditation through partnership is the process by which the Society works to ensure that quality standards in education and training are met.

The Society accredits undergraduate, postgraduate and conversion courses.

• Find out more about the BPS Accreditation

Becoming an Educational Psychologist in Scotland

• Find out more about Society's Careers, education & training

Educational Psychology Services

Educational Psychologists are typically employed by a Local Authority, Educational Psychology Service or Psychological Service accredited by the SDEP.

Pay Scales

Pay and conditions are negotiated in Scotland by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT).

• Find out more about SNCT

Qualification in Educational Psychology (Scotland)

The Qualification in Educational Psychology (Scotland) (QEP(S)) offers the independent route to completion of stage 2 training for those who are employed as educational psychologists (probationers).

• Find out more about the Qualification in Educational Psychology (Scotland)

• Association of Scottish Principal Educational Psychologists
• Department for Education and Lifelong Learning (Scottish Government)
• Education Scotland (Scottish Government)
• Guidance on the Presumption to Provide Education in a Mainstream Setting
• Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS)
• Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP)
• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• International School Psychology Association (ISPA)
• National Association of Principal Educational Psychologists (NAPEP) 

• Aberdeenshire Council
• Aberdeen City Council
• Angus Council 
• Argyll and Bute
• Clackmannanshire
• Dundee City 
• East Ayrshire
• East Dunbartonshire 
• East Lothian 
• East Renfrewshire
• Edinburgh, City of
• Eilean Siar
• Fife 
• Falkirk
• Glasgow City
• Highland 
• Inverclyde
• Midlothian
• Moray
• North Ayrshire
• North Lanarkshire
• Orkney Islands
• Perth and Kinross 
• Renfrewshire
• Shetland Islands 
• Stirling 
• South Ayrshire 
• South Lanarkshire
• West Dunbartonshire 
• West Lothian

These include:

• The option to attend our Annual Conference

  Attend high quality presentations, present a poster or a paper and meet other members of SDEP at our annual conference – at exclusive low rates.

• Additional opportunities for Continuing Professional Development

  Enjoy preferential rates for Professional Development workshops, offering comprehensive CPD opportunities, designed annually to meet the training needs of division members.

• Access to our Educational Psychology in Scotland publication

  Receive an hard copy of EPiS delivered right to your door.

• The chance to take part in the development and direction of the division

  Join the SDEP committee and influence the profession's development by playing a part in policy decisions and other working groups.

The Scottish Division of Educational Psychology (SDEP) uses its e-newsletter to inform its members of activities and initiatives that are relevant to their interests and to make requests for engagement on topical issues.

To receive this, you will need to:

1. become a member of the SDEP
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You can check your preferences by logging into your member portal.

If you have any queries, please contact Member Network support - SDEP.

To assist us in responding to your query please make sure to include your membership number and quote 'SDEP announcement email' in the subject line.

Our volunteers come from a wide range of different backgrounds, whether they be practitioners or academics, or full members or in-training members, and together form an open and inclusive community.  

If you would like to become involved in the executive please come along to the Annual General Meeting and volunteer. The AGM is always held at the annual conference in September.

To get elected you need to complete a form and have two members of the SDEP support your nomination. Elections will be held at the AGM.  

SDEP Committee

The committee consists of four executive posts: the chair, the secretary, the treasurer and the membership secretary. In addition, there is a past chair, up to six ordinary members and up to three co-opted members. Committee members sit for three years subject to re-election at the AGM.

SDEP Training Committee

The Training Committee of the SDEP is separate to the executive. The committee plays an important role within the BPS validating the training courses and accrediting services for supervising Educational Psychologists (Probationers).

The Training Committee meets four times a year and consists of members of the SDEP and six standing members.

The six standing members are the directors of the two training courses in Scotland, a student representative from each of the training courses, a representative from the probationers' network and an administrator from the British Psychological Society Head Office.

The SDEP Training Committee appoints a chairperson and a past chair. Committee members sit for three years subject to re-election at the AGM. They can extend their stay on the committee for a further 3 years at the AGM.