17/09/2024
Over 1.6 million pupils in England have special educational needs, an increase of 101,000 from 2023, and over 20,0000 children are waiting for an Education Health and Care (EHC) assessment. Access to support in England currently a postcode lottery, and as such, children with SEND are one of the most disadvantaged groups in education.
More concerningly still, a new survey from the BPS has found that many more children and young people could go without access to support and face even longer delays in receiving EHC assessments, due to issues faced across the Educational Psychologist workforce, with many considering leaving the profession. The survey found:
Just over half (51 per cent) of all Educational Psychologists say they feel unable to support children and young people with their current workload;
Seven in ten (70 per cent) respondents felt that children and young people in their local authority didn’t have fair and equal access to an Educational Psychologist;
Almost half (46 per cent) of respondents are either going to leave employment (26 per cent) in the next year or are undecided (20 per cent);
Almost a quarter (22 per cent) of respondents are unsatisfied (17 per cent) or very unsatisfied (5 per cent) with their variety of work. Respondents described their limited ability to support early intervention and systemic work as key reasons for decreased job satisfaction;
Over half (51 per cent) of respondents are either not at all positive (9 per cent) or not very positive (42 per cent) about the future of educational psychology practice.
It is indisputable that all pupils should have access to the resources and support needed to fulfil their full potential. SEND specialists, including Educational Psychologists, are a key part of the education system and play a pivotal role in the social and emotional wellbeing of children and young people. As such, greater focus is urgently needed on measures to retain SEND specialists working in local authority employment, as without this, the needs of children and young people and their families will continue to go unmet, and the escalation of need will increase. Measures to better embed prevention and early intervention into the education system is also vital, as it is well acknowledged that prevention and early intervention is more cost-effective than allowing difficulties to escalate.
The BPS is therefore urging the government to:
Ensure every school has a named educational psychologist based in their local authority, providing services free at the point of delivery, where they can have maximum impact working in partnership with colleagues in education, health, and social care.
Increase focus on retaining educational psychologists working in local authorities, alongside a fully funded and costed workforce plan to make sure children have equal access to the additional educational support they need wherever in the country they attend school.
A holistic review of the positioning of SEND within the wider education system to enable increased focus on early intervention and preventative support for children and families and a truly inclusive education system.
If you agree with these points, please click the link below and send an automated email to your local MP (add your postcode and it finds your MP's details for you!).
Join the campaign to ensure every school has a named educational psychologist in their local authority
https://bps.eaction.org.uk/send-reform
