Key Terminology
Throughout involvement with the Educational Psychology Service there may be many terms that are unfamiliar. Below are some of the most common examples of terms and abbreviations you may encounter .
Professionals in the service
Educational Psychologists (EP) are psychologists trained in child and developmental psychology. EPs have completed a doctorate in psychology. They support families, schools and young people to understand and move forward with their current situations.
A Trainee Educational Psychologist (TEP) is a psychologist who is currently on the doctoral course, training to become a qualified educational psychologist. As part of their training, TEPs complete placements where they support schools and young people under the supervision of a qualified EP.
An Assistant Psychologist (AP) is a psychologist who has completed an undergraduate degree in psychology. An AP helps out EPs with many different tasks, including admin, writing, completing observations, training or gaining pupil voice from young people. Assistant Psychologists complete work under the supervision of a qualified Educational Psychologist and will often need to discuss their work with their supervisor before actions can take place
Other Professionals that may work with young people
A Learning Support Advisory Teacher (LSAT) works with children and young people aged 4 to 18, senior leadership staff, teachers, teaching assistants and school support workers, offering learning assessments and advice.
The Behaviour Support Advisory Teachers (BSAT) are a group of practitioners who work with children and young people aged 3-18, TAs, school support workers, teachers and senior leadership teams. They schools and settings in the area, Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH). Find out more here.
Learning Support Advisory Teachers who focus their support for children below 4 years old are called Early Years Advisory Teachers. They support nurseries and children in reception classes with their learning and any additional developmental needs.
A SENCo, or Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator, is the school teacher who is responsible for assessing, planning and monitoring the progress of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Teachers who want to become a SENCO have to train on a special educational needs co-ordination award. Each school must have a SENCO. If you are not sure who this is, ask your child's class teacher or visit the school's website.
A Special Educational Needs Officer is an individual, working for the local authority, who is responsible for collating and writing the information and provision within an EHCP. Find out more here.
EHCP process
The legal process that takes place to decide whether a young person can have an EHCP. The Local Authority carries out an EHCNA and will ask the advice of a range of professionals (Educational Psychologist, teachers, doctors, Speech and Language Therapist etc) to help make the decision.
Educational Psychologists are currently required to undertake in the ECHNA process as outlined in the SEN code of practice. If your child is going through an ECHNA, one of our team will be in touch.
An Education, Health and Care Plan is a legal document which describes a young person’s special educational needs and what they need to help them learn. Only children with the highest level of need will get an EHCP, there are many other children with special educational needs who are supported in schools without an EHCP. EHCPs replaced Statements of Special Educational Needs. Find out more here.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
A child or young person has SEN if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her with their educational setting. A school will keep a SEN register and if you are concerned about your child, speak to the school's SENCO.
The SEN Code of practice states children's needs may be categorised into four main areas:
- Cognition and Learning
- Communication and Interaction (C&I)
- Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)
- Sensory and/or Physical
