Educational Psychology Service - Education Authority

The Educational Psychology Service supports children and young people particularly those with special educational needs by supporting their learning, development and emotional wellbeing.

Who are we ?

The EA Educational Psychology Service supports children and young people particularly those with special educational needs by supporting their learning, development and emotional wellbeing.

Educational Psychologists train in Educational and Child Psychology. Educational Psychologists also have training in child development, teaching and learning specifically for children with special educational needs.Psychology

Assistants work alongside Education Psychologists contributing to assessments and interventions for children and young people.

What do we do ?

The Education Psychology Service offers a range of supports to families and schools, to help children and young people, particularly those with special educational needs, by identifying their strengths and addressing barriers to learning. We use a range of skills to meet the needs of individuals, groups and organisations. Educational psychologists work in nurseries, primary schools and post primary schools as well as Special Schools and Specialist classes/units. We also work with pre-school children including those in playgroups. The Educational Psychology Service work in accordance with the Code of Practice (Code of Practice for the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs).

Educational psychologists’ work includes:

• Providing consultations and advice to schools;
• Working with others including health professionals to identify and understand children’s needs ensuring they can reach their full potential;
• Assisting parents/carers and schools to make informed choices in meeting children and young people’s needs;
• Carrying out assessments using a range of methods;
• Delivering a range of interventions to promote well-being, social, emotional and behavioural development and to improve learning outcomes;
• Providing training and development work for schools staff and others; and
• Carrying out research and evaluations to help share best practice.
  

The Education Psychology Service provides support at the individual/family level, to schools and other educational settings and at EA and DE level.

I have concerns about my child. What do I do?

Any concerns about your child’s learning or progress at school should be discussed with your child’s teacher or the school’s Special Education Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo). They will be able to address many of your concerns. The SENCo will, if appropriate contact the Educational Psychology Service to begin a discussion about your child’s needs.  

If you would like further information about the EA Education Psychology Service, please discuss this with your child’s school.

Or any parent or school can contact the service if they have a general enquiry or if they wish they wish to discuss their child’s referral from the Educational Psychology Service.

Contacts details for the local offices are listed below.

Ballymena Psychology Office   Tel : 028 2566 1284 Email : Psychology.Ballymena@eani.org.uk

Belfast Psychology Office Tel : 028 9056 4254  Email : Psychology.Belfast@eani.org.uk

Coleraine Psychology Office Tel : 028 7032 8462 Email : Psychology.Coleraine@eani.org.uk

Derry/Londonderry Psychology Office Tel : 028 7186 4780 Email : Psychology.Maydown@eani.org.uk

Dundonald Psychology Office Tel : 028 9056 6914 Email : Psychology.Dundonald@eani.org.uk

Dungannon Psychology Office Tel : 028 8241 1592 Email : Psychology.Dungannon@eani.org.uk

Enniskillen Psychology Office Tel : 028 6634 3900 Email : Psychology.Enniskillen@eani.org.uk

Newry Psychology Office Tel : 028 3026 6443 Email : Psychology.Newry@eani.org.uk

Omagh Psychology Office Tel : 028 8241 1394 Email : Psychology.Omagh@eani.org.uk

Portadown Psychology Office Tel : 028 3835 1480 Email : Psychology.Portadown@eani.org.uk

For further information please visit Education Authority Website