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Original poster

Educational Psychologist

26 replies

mammoon567 · 22/09/2022 21:55

Has anyone's child seen seen the educational psychologist at school and not needed intervention? My 4 year old started school 3 weeks ago and they're wanting to refer because he point blank refuses to sit and write with the other children. He's never been in a school setting before and we're hoping its environmental. Just wondering if anyones child has seen the educational psychologist and everything has been ok

OP posts:
HardStareBear · 22/09/2022 22:05

I'm amazed that they're talking about an educational psychologist at this early stage. He's barely set foot in the place, poor lad. What exactly are they wanting him assessed for? I work with lots of children in that age group and educational psychology is usually one of the last professionals that are called upon.

Pinkflipflop85 · 22/09/2022 22:06

In 15 years of teaching I've never had an EP in where it hasn't led to further support and/or diagnosis.

Schools usually have very limited EP hours/funding so they won't make the decision to bring them in lightly.

Original poster
mammoon567 · 22/09/2022 22:08

It's a church school so the diocsese (sp?) fund it

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4 year olds General education
Original poster
mammoon567 · 22/09/2022 22:08

They didn't actually say what they're assessing him for. They just said they wanted to see if he could benefit from extra support

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SnarkyBag · 22/09/2022 22:10

I’d be highly surprised at a school referring to an Ed psych for this at 4 years old without there being other concerns as well.

Maymaymay · 22/09/2022 22:10

Are you sure they said educational psychologist ? We have years' wait and we are a church school... why are they asking him to sit and write with other children ? Something is way way off here !

Original poster
mammoon567 · 22/09/2022 22:13

The not wanting to do the work was the main concern, they briefly mentioned that he was a bit bossy with other children but hes an only child who is used to interacting mainly with adults so I assume that he's that way because hes wanting to take on an adult role with other children. His nursery mentioned no concerns.

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Ilikecheeseontoast · 22/09/2022 22:14

No 4 year old should be expected to sit and write 3 weeks into Reception. There must be other concerns but it seems ridiculously early to me. He’s barely had time to settle!

Bobbybobbins · 22/09/2022 22:14

Crikey I too am surprised the school have asked the Ed psych to come in at this stage.

MyLovelyPen · 22/09/2022 22:15

Wow, that’s very early. I would get further clarification. There must be more to it or they’re totally overreacting!

Bicthebiro · 22/09/2022 22:18

4 is early to be asking them to see an educational psychologist. Especially three weeks into reception.

Speak to the school and find out exactly what their concerns are.

abovedecknotbelow · 22/09/2022 22:18

That sounds bizarre. I'm amazed the school has funding.

Maymaymay · 22/09/2022 22:19

mammoon567 · 22/09/2022 22:13

The not wanting to do the work was the main concern, they briefly mentioned that he was a bit bossy with other children but hes an only child who is used to interacting mainly with adults so I assume that he's that way because hes wanting to take on an adult role with other children. His nursery mentioned no concerns.

Something isn't right here for sure, who is they ? The teacher or senco? It's quite early even for a meeting, did they call you in? I would be absolutely amazed if they wasted an educational psychologist on this, they are like unicorns in our Borough.

Everydaywheniwakeup · 22/09/2022 22:19

EP time is like gold dust. If they are suggesting involvement this early on, they have huge concerns, the preschool raised huge concerns during transition or there's more to this than you are describing. If it genuinely is just because he won't sit and write, their EYFS practice is poor and their SENCo is very inexperienced.

biscuitcat · 22/09/2022 22:20

I'm an EP - I'd find it unusual for a child who is so new at school to be referred this early unless they're seeing behaviour which is really concerning them, so it could be worth asking school if they have any other concerns prompting them to want to make a referral.

In terms of EP involvement resulting in intervention, there's quite a lot of variety in practice! For me, I'd want to explore possible reasons for what's going on, absolutely including environmental reasons, and would probably suggest to school possible adjustments they could make to the environment to help, as well as ways they could help a child develop the skills which they need to access the classroom and learning, but wouldn't necessarily suggest specific interventions (depends on the situation!)

Mosaic123 · 22/09/2022 22:23

Has he seen an optician?

Original poster
mammoon567 · 22/09/2022 22:25

Now i'm so confused. They've given me a form to fill in and this is all they've told me about concerns, aside from him being a bit flighty and not settling with one activity during free play but i brushed that off, they said aside from personal/social skills every other category they look at is age appropriate for him. They've said they need my permission for any intervention and they did say that they're doing it because it takes a while for the referral to be processed and that it may just be him needing to settle in so to hear that they must have significant concerns doesnt add up to me.

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NonPolitical · 22/09/2022 22:32

mammoon567 · 22/09/2022 22:08

It's a church school so the diocsese (sp?) fund it

The Diocese do not fund EP time.

Kite22 · 22/09/2022 22:37

Agree with everyone else. There must have been some mixed communication here.

No child 3 weeks into Reception is expected to sit and write except some weird Private schools who don't follow the EYFS.
The Diocese have never got involved in paying for an EP in anywhere I have ever heard of
There is no way an EP would see anyone without some school intervention first
It is FAR too early to be thinking about referring to an EP, when there were not any issues at Nursery I am aware there are some children with severe and complex needs who might , but that clearly isn't the case here

IncessantNameChanger · 22/09/2022 22:44

I'd be very surprised if a EP sees your son anytime school. If your England state the school pay for the EP from their delighted funding. They normally have say in 300 kids school enough inthe pot to get a ep in twice a year for their most major concerns.

In my LA you would only get a EP in its crisis ( placement breakdown) or via a tribunal. No EP goes in just because there are vague concerns.

My son is ten with severe ASD. He last saw a LA EP at three years old. No amount of begging would get then to reassessment him for secondary and he will be placed I suspect in 40,k plus PA school a paid for by my LA.

Ep assessments are like unicorns. You hear about them, but no one sees them

primeoflife · 22/09/2022 22:48

I agree with others, to get an EP referral these days is practically impossible! Either there is a lot more to this or there's been a misunderstanding

Dripdropper · 22/09/2022 22:50

Different schools have different amounts of EP time. Some schools (my DDs for eg) have one in a day a week - not just doing assessments . They do an early help thing at ours where you can have a meeting (or the teacher can) to work out support or come up with a solution to X issue. Doesn’t always have to be for a massive problem. I spoke to ours when DD wouldn’t eat/join the lunch hall and would get v upset - he figured out a way to help. Could this be the case with yours? School just want early help before problem gets worse?

Mummysharkargggggggg · 22/09/2022 22:51

They wouldn't be bringing in an Ed psych if they didn't think there were more issues 🤷‍♀️

AmaryllisNightAndDay · 22/09/2022 23:13

Hm, I would guess that the school have some real concerns. Not wanting to join in with what the others are doing may be a warning sign, bossiness is another warning sign, so is wanting to take an adult role with other children. Most kids slip happily into a peer role with other kids when it's offered even if they haven't had the chance before.

Sometimes social-communication problems don't show up at nursery, especially if your DS has been at the same nursery since he was very young and they're all used to him and he is used to them. Or if he usually only interacts one-to-one with adults rather than in a group with other children then peer communication problems may not have shown up before.

The reception teacher at my DS's school saw it as part of her job to identify kids who might need support and refer them. If his behaviour is not terrible but they have concerns then there could be something underlying and as they say there is a long wait so they want him in the queue now in case it doesn't resolve itself.

Maymaymay · 23/09/2022 10:12

mammoon567 · 22/09/2022 22:25

Now i'm so confused. They've given me a form to fill in and this is all they've told me about concerns, aside from him being a bit flighty and not settling with one activity during free play but i brushed that off, they said aside from personal/social skills every other category they look at is age appropriate for him. They've said they need my permission for any intervention and they did say that they're doing it because it takes a while for the referral to be processed and that it may just be him needing to settle in so to hear that they must have significant concerns doesnt add up to me.

His personal and social skills must be what they are thinking about, and not settling at an activity could be something. What does he do instead ? Run around?

I would go back to them and ask what the exact reason for a referral will be, ask them to be blunt with you as it sounds like they are tip toeing around some genuine concerns.