Educational Psychologists, may I pick your brains?

[catkin83]

I'd really appreciate some inside knowledge about the profession.

Since having DCs (3yrs and Iyr) I've been doing the OU psychology conversion for graduates that gives BPS accredited status.
I'm on course for a 1st.

I'm 38 years old and have taught in inner city primary schools (non qualified though, as a music instructor) with demanding kids (many SEN) for the last 16yrs.

My first degree was from Cambridge and was in history and was 2:1.

I am about to approach my school's (where I teach) Ed psych for shadowing work.

My questions are these:

1. I went on to an introductory evening at the IOE for the ED psych course and was a bit shocked by how young everyone seemed. Am I getting too old to consider applying for the Phd training course?
2. Are employment prospects in or around London good or bad? I've heard conflicting things. 3)With my experience and the information I've given do I stand a chance of getting on the training course and getting a job at the end of it?
3. Is combining the training and eventual work compatible with having two young children?

I'd love to become an Ed psych but I hope I'm not deluding myself. It seems frightening competitive to even get on the training course. I'd love to have a realistic view from an insider. Thanks in advance.

In my London borough ed psychs are being made redundant by the local authority as a result of government cuts, along with other school support staff like education welfare officers and careers advisers.

Hopefully this will be a temporary situation - schools might pay for their own ed psychs or there might be some kind of privatised service.

Thanks TheFarSide.

I guess it's a very uncertain time. I still feel like I want to pursue it - there's not much security in the teaching I'm doing anyway.

But perhaps that's a bit naive when experienced Ed psychs are facing redundancy....I dunno.....

Every profession or sector suffers its ups and downs. If you're really keen I'd say go for it - but be prepared for it to take a while to get your first job.

Your first class psychology degree and teaching experience really work in your favour.

I'm sure you're aware of the BPS website - they have some good info on psychology plus FAQs dealing with the age issue.

It's a good idea to talk to some real ed psychs - hopefully someone will be along shortly ...

bump - just in case there are any Ed psychs out there......

I'm one. I love it (mostly...)! It's a supportive, interesting, useful, intellecually demanding profession. I wouldn't want to do anything else (except for the odd day, when I'd do just about anything else!)

In answer to your questions...

Trainees are getting younger I think, that might be to do with the 'new' training arrangements. When I did my training, about 6 years ago, we were a varied bunch. Some, like me, were quite young and inexperienced whereas some were really experienced (HT's, senior advisors etc). Being older absolutely won't hold you back from gettting on a course though and you sound like you have really solid experience. I think that the course tutors like to see a variety of applicants as it makes for a richer training experience for everyone.

Employment prospects is a funny issue at the moment. I don't know of any EPs who have been (compulsarily) made redundant. Know of two who have taken voluntary redundancy to set up a social enterprise. I don't know of any trainees who have not found a job, one way or another, either. And as FarSide said, there are (and will be) many other opportunities, especially in London. Most of my colleagues do some sort of private work (or research, or university tuition) on top of their LA work if part time.

From what you have said, you've got some solid experience. What I'd advise, is that you get to know the principal EP in your borough and talk to them about how to bolster your application and what sort of additional experience you should be getting (shadowing work can be really hard to get due to confidentiality issues, but you could ask your SENCo if you can sit in with her on some consulations/assessments). The courses are really competitive, but the trainees are only human (thank God!)

It's a job which is very compatible with having a young family. I have DD od 2 and another on the way. Will take a year Mat leave and return to post at the end of it. At the moment I do 0.5 contract with half a day of this from home. All works rather well. Perhaps I'm lucky as my service is really supportive of this as are HR, I know plenty of EP's who do some sort of flexible working though.

Hope that helps. Good luck :)

Hi there, I'm an EP and I also love it. You're definitely not too old to get started on a new career as an EP - in fact you'll probably find that the experience you have gained so far gives you something extra at the interview stage that others might not have.

I really don't know about the employment prospects in London but you probably have more chance of getting work in London than in other parts of the country as there are lots of boroughs all nestled together (?) so more opportunities.

I have two very young children DS1 (2.1) and DS2 (4 months) and have found the job works well with family life as you can use flexi-hours to accommodate late starts or earlier finishing.

I shadowed an EP first and worked as an assistant EP before applying for the courses and I am certain that it was the understanding of the job that I gained from these experiences that helped at interview. Join EPNET (search for JISCMAIL) which is a forum for EPs - it will give you an insight into current issues and the types of work that EPs cover.

The courses vary quite a lot in philosophy too and you may find that one suits your own style of working better - I trained at Nottingham and really enjoyed the focus on problem resolution/solution focused. If you have done your homework on the style of course when you go for your interview it will help them to see how you will fit in as one of their students.

It's a great career - really varied work - although god knows what the job will look like after all the cut backs - the LA I work for are thinking of using us for statutory assessment work only rather than preventative work which will really make me think twice about staying/moving elsewhere...

Hope this helps and best of luck!

Thanks Helzapoppin and mullymummy, I feel really encouraged by your comments. It's great to get insiders' tips and knowledge.