A Review of the Functions and Contribution of Educational Psychologists in England and Wales in light of “Every Child Matters: Change for Children',

Abstract

The implementation of the ‘Every Child Matters’ (ECM) legislation represents, forEducational Psychologists (EPs), the most significant national strategic developmentsince the DfEE (2000) report on the role of educational psychology services. TheECM agenda makes outcomes for children central to integrated children’s servicesthat form a team around the child and family in the context of community and school.Outcomes for children are specified through aims, targets, indicators and inspectioncriteria which are grouped around five main areas.There are a number of ways in which the developments embodied within the ECMagenda have an impact on the role of EPs. Among the most significant is therestructuring of local authorities (LAs) into children’s services combining educationaland social services. This places EPs more centrally within community contexts whereschools form only one of the settings in which they work. A further consequence isthe renewed emphasis on the importance of multi agency work and the resultingrestructuring of services around multi-agency teams. Within this context there arealso a number of related initiatives to improve services for children such as BESTs,CAMHSs and YOTs. In addition there is ongoing concern as to whether the needs ofspecific groups of children and their carers are being met, for example those with lowincidencedisabilities, those with BESD and those who are subject to a local authoritycare order (‘Looked After’). These changes reflect an evolving context in which EPs’work that is markedly different from 2000 when the DfEE research on the role andgood practice of educational psychology services was undertaken.This new and rapidly changing context forms the backdrop against which this reviewwas conducted. The overall aims are to consider the contribution that EPs can make tomeeting the needs of children as set out in the Every Child Matters agenda and theextent to which they make a distinctive contribution working with, and alongside,other related services.

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