My Background
I have always really enjoyed working with children and young people and this inspired me to train to become an Educational Psychologist. I believe that education can change the lives of young people and I followed this path because I wanted to help make a difference to the young people who may need some extra support and guidance to enable them to achieve success within education.
I studied a Psychology degree at Sheffield University after leaving school and, after my Psychology Degree, I trained as a primary school teacher and worked in a junior school for 3 years, which I hugely enjoyed. I then secured a job as an Assistant Educational Psychologist with Southampton Psychology Service which was a wonderful opportunity and really confirmed that this was definitely the career for me. I studied on the Master’s degree course in Educational Psychology at Southampton University and, after qualifying as an Educational Psychologist, I worked for many years with Southampton Psychology Service as well as working with Hampshire EPS (Educational Psychology Service) for a short period of time. Following the birth of my children, I spent some time at home and then worked for a Private Educational Psychology company where I was the EP for two primary schools (one for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs and one for pupils with a range of learning difficulties) and one secondary school, which I was based in for one day a week.
I have experience in the areas of dyslexia; autism; social, emotional and mental health needs; confidence and self-esteem; attention and concentration; processing difficulties; learning and developmental difficulties. I also have experience of working in a sixth form college, in addition to working in pre-schools and schools, so I am able to confidently work a range of ages, including post-16 students who may be struggling with some aspects of college.
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What I do
My work usually involves one, or more, of the following:
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individual assessments (including observation, cognitive assessment, dynamic assessment). I am able to diagnose dyslexia and dyscalculia and can provide advice about (although not diagnose) conditions such as Autism and ADHD. I can also carry out assessments for access arrangements in exams.
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consultation (discussions with parents and/or school staff)
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‘drop-in’ support for staff and/or parents, to discuss issues and focus on solutions together
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group work with children (e.g. social skills work, Circle of Friends, developing emotional literacy skills, etc.)
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training for staff
Gathering information from everyone involved (parents, staff, other professionals and the young person) is an essential part of the solution-focused process. I really enjoy talking to the young person and making sure that they feel that their views are heard and feel able to talk about the situation from their perspective. When carrying out individual assessments I will, with parents’ permission, discuss the assessment results with the young person at the end of the assessment, focusing on their strengths and positives and identifying any areas of difficulty and strategies to help in these areas.
Sometimes, the young person does not need to be involved in the work in the early stages (for example, if it is felt that a solution-focused discussion with staff and/or parents would be the most helpful way to start) although consent would always be gained from parents for the young person to be discussed. Often, the solution-focused discussion enables strategies to be identified and implemented without the young person being involved directly and it may be at a later stage, if further advice is needed, that the direct work would take place.
I write a detailed report after individual work with a young person, focusing on strengths and recommending strategies for the areas that are more difficult for them. I can also make recommendations about access arrangements for exams.
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I currently work part-time as an EP at a sixth form college (assessing students for exam arrangements and making recommendations for them within college, where needed, as well as carrying out diagnostic dyslexia assessments) and I carry out my own independent Educational Psychology work during the rest of the week. I carry out regular assessments for three schools and am also contacted by parents directly, usually through recommendations by friends or family of young people with whom I have previously worked.