DfE publish research report on Educational Psychology workforce

The Department for Education has published a much anticipated research report into the system, practice and reported impact of educational psychology services in England. The report was commissioned by the DfE and undertaken by researchers at the Warwick Institute of Employment Research and Ecorys. The report came to the following conclusions.

• EP services are in high demand, due in part to increasing numbers of EHCPs- but there is limited supply.
• EPs thought that there is a limited selection of their work that it would be possible for others to take on, due to the specialist training undertaken by EPs, and the amount of statutory work they conduct.
• Due to limited to capacity, EP services were generally held in high regard but issues had resulted in confusion about what services EPs were able to offer and an underutilisation of the skills and knowledge of EPs.
• The number of EPs being trained every year is unlikely to meet this demand sustainably and there is little evidence that any other supply-side interventions (e.g. Assistant EPs or lengthening the time EPs work in LAs after qualifying) would have sufficient impact to address this shortage.

The AEP and the National Association of Principal Educational Psychologists (NAPEP) gave insight and input into the report, alongside school leaders, Special Educational Needs Coordinators, parents, carers and children and young people.