How to access the EPS
You can access the Educational Psychology Service (EPS) through:
- the council (by an agreed education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment of the child)
- the school's Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo).
Parents cannot access this service directly.
If you're a parent and are concerned about your child’s educational progress, you should discuss this initially with the class teacher, the school's SENCo, or the headteacher.
Find out more about how to access the EPS if your child is home educated or looked-after.
EHC needs assessments
Children and young people with an EHC needs assessment agreed by the Stage 1 SEN Panel will be referred to the EPS by the SEN case officer.
For more information about requesting a needs assessment for your child, speak to your school or visit our education, health and care plans (EHCPs) page.
School requests
The EPS is a traded service commissioned by educational settings.
Schools can use the traded time that they purchase to consult with their link educational psychologist.
Individual pupils are usually referred in these consultations, often by the SENCo or head teacher.
Find out more about traded work.
After a request for involvement has been made
When an educational setting has requested involvement for a child or young person, consent will need to be given before an educational psychologist can become involved or carry out any work with the young person.
If the young person is under 13, the consent will need to be given by someone with parental responsibility. If they're over 13, they can give consent themselves.
If your child is home educated or looked-after
If your child is home educated, please speak to the Home Education Team at Medway for further advice by emailing homeeducation@medway.gov.uk.
For looked-after children, please contact the Virtual School for further information.