AEP delegation raises key education issues at TUC Congress

• Delegates from the Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP) took part in a series of debates on education, early intervention and support for children and young people at the 2026 Trades Union Congress in Brighton.
• It proved a successful Congress for the AEP, with both of the union’s motions passed, while a composite on SEND reform and funding supported by the AEP also carried.
• On Day 2, AEP General Secretary Donna Wiggett spoke in support of Composite 10 on SEND reform and increased funding for ASN and SEND, presented by NASUWT and EIS. The composite was passed by Congress.
• During the same session, AEP President Lisa O’Connor moved the AEP’s Motion 45 on investing in early years. It was seconded by the NEU, supported by EIS, NASUWT and NAHT, and passed by Congress.
• The AEP’s contribution continued on Day 3, when Donna moved Motion 38 on defending professional autonomy in public services.

Supporting SEND reform and increased funding

Watch Donna speak here. Read Composite 10 here.

AEP General Secretary Donna Wiggett spoke in support of Composite 10 (SEND reform and increased funding for ASN/SEND), presented by the NASUWT and Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) unions. The composite addressed SEND reform and the need for increased, ringfenced funding for additional support needs and special educational needs and disabilities provision.

Speaking on behalf of the AEP, Donna described the pressure facing a system struggling to meet the needs of children and young people. She argued that what is often described as “challenging behaviour” can be the result of unmet needs, affecting children’s learning and wellbeing as well as the staff working to support them.

Donna made the case for properly funded mainstream inclusion, alongside high-quality special school provision where this is the appropriate placement for a child. She also emphasised the contribution EPs can make by working directly with schools, teachers, support staff, children and families.

Donna’s speech also highlighted the continuing uncertainty over Government funding for the 2027 cohort of trainee educational psychologists, despite this having formed part of the SEND reforms. Around 1,700 aspiring educational psychologists are waiting to apply for 204 training places.

Donna told Congress: “Inclusion is not achieved through aspiration alone; it requires investment, expertise and sustained support.”

The composite was passed by Congress.

Investing in early years

Watch Lisa speak here. Read Motion 45 here.

During the same session, AEP President Lisa O’Connor moved the union’s own Motion; Motion 45: Investing in early years: giving our children the best start in life. The motion called for a national minimum guarantee of inclusive early years services, investment in the early years workforce and earlier identification and support for children with emerging developmental needs.

It also sought to ensure that children, families and early years practitioners can access specialist advice and support. The motion was seconded by the National Education Union and supported by the EIS, NASUWT and NAHT.

Motion 45 was passed by Congress.

Defending professional autonomy in public services

Watch Donna speak here. Read Motion 38 here.

On Tuesday morning, Donna presented AEP’s Motion 38 on defending professional autonomy in public services. The motion highlights the importance of independent professional judgement in maintaining safe, ethical and high-quality services.

The motion further calls for professional autonomy to be recognised as a workforce and public-service issue, alongside adequate staffing, manageable workloads and respect for professional ethics. It also seeks to ensure that targets and managerial systems do not restrict professional advice or prevent educational psychologists and other professionals from acting in the interests of the people who use their services.

Drawing on a recent case, Donna described how difficulties initially viewed as a behavioural issue were found through professional assessment and independent judgement to reflect significant unmet communication and sensory needs. She warned that these needs might have remained unidentified and unmet under a target-driven process.

Donna told Congress: “You cannot hold someone accountable for their professional judgement and then deny them the time, resources or freedom to exercise it.”

The Royal College of Podiatry’s amendment to the motion was accepted, adding healthcare to the areas in which Government, employers and public bodies should protect independent professional judgement. 

Motion 38, as amended, was passed by Congress.

AEP wins celebrated in Congress video

Watch the clip here. 

At the opening of Day 3’s afternoon’s session, AEP campaigning was celebrated as part of a video to Congress highlighting union wins over 2025-26. 

The clip heralded how the AEP secured an improved Soulbury pay settlement for members, and increased bursary support for some trainee members. It also acknowledged how the AEP has reached its highest-ever number of educational psychologists in membership, while welcoming Donna as the union’s new general secretary.