Anyone have a clue if Educational Psychologists get many weeks holiday per year?

[allgonebellyup]

i am desperate to go for a career in this field but as the single mother of 2 young dc i dont know if its possible!

Would it be just the usual 4-5 weeks a year?

AFAIK it depends where you work. many ed psychs are employed by the LEA, and in our area many of my ed-psych friends are on term-time only contracts. one other i know in a neighbouring authority appears to work all year .
if you really want to do it, can't you go for it and then be selective about where you work or use your flexible working application process to see if you can sort something out to suit your family? some ed psychs also are linked to university and that would be another ball game again in terms of holidays. probably worth contacting a couple of local ed authorities near you and see what they offer. It seems to be the case in our patch that there are so few ed psychs that the ones working can get pretty much what they want as the education authority is desperate to keep them.

Good luck, sorry i don't have a good 'definite' answer for you. at least this will bump you anyway...

I used to get 28 days a year. One of my colleagues tried to go term time only and was not allowed. I guess it may depend where you work.

thanks you lot, i will contact my nearest LEAs.

anyone else?

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neolara - where are you then?

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Sorry, I haven't been on for a while. I got a bit addicted and asked my DH to block mumsnet for me. Have just worked out how to unblock it though.

I used to work near, but not in, London. Sorry, but I don't really want to say exactly where because professionally it's a very small world and I'm probably easily identifiable. If you want, you can CAT me though and I"ll tell you where I worked and answer any questions you have. Actually, I've no idea how to do CATs, but if you do, I'll be happy to help.

I'm probably going to block myself again after I've had a quick look around so I may not be on again for a few days.

I have no idea sorry but has always been something I wanted to get into. I think the training is pretty full time over the year though - have a look at some of the university sites?

The thing that worries me is the placements. You work so much placement per year but are responsible for finding this yourself. If you are offered something anywhere in the uk you are expected to take it...if you dont take it and dont find anything else you are expected to pay back the money they have paid you to train. They say they are family friendly and take this into consideration but I couldnt move the entire family away so would therefore be taking a big risk. It may be different in reality but this is what the course information makes out.

I would guess its a common problem though as most trainees would be older (as need experience in area) and therefore more likely to have children. Really tough one.

I am also guessing its a full time around the year job - actually working with the children is probably only part of it...paperwork, planning, training etc. Just like teaching isnt a 9 - 3 job 39 weeks of the year.

Frustrating as everywhere seems so short on ed psychs!

xx

Most EP full time contracts are with standard 30ish days holiday a year.

Some LEA's do term time only contracts, but these have to individually negotiated.

IME they are generally quite flexible though.

why dont you look at a job advert, the T&C should mention holidays

this has 11 weeks paid hol

That's a job based in a school so you get school holidays.

Most EP jobs are with LEA's, and Soulbury scale does not include school holidays, unless you individually negoiatiate a contract, which many LEA's are willing to do.

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