What we do

Educational Psychologists provide schools with advice regarding learning, behaviour, emotional and social development, and mental health; assessment of needs; and planned interventions to promote learning and support psychological wellbeing.

The service seeks to work proactively with schools to ensure there is early identification of children who might benefit from support and a graduated response following an assess, plan, do, review process in order to meet their needs. Schools will be expected to have engaged with the Educational Psychology Service in advance of seeking a statutory assessment, so that the assessment can be based on appropriate evidence already collected and supported by the psychologist working with the school.


The work of Psychologists can be broken down into four broad areas:

  • Consultation and Coaching are joint problem-solving processes that may relate to concerns regarding learning, behaviour, emotional development, social development and mental health needs. These may be focused on an individual child, group of pupils or an aspect of professional practice to be developed. Psychologists apply psychological knowledge and skills to help professionals &/or parents/carers explore complex problems or issues in more depth, improve understanding, reach a clear view, and facilitate solutions. Consultations may also lead to the signposting to other services.
  • Assessment, formulation and advice is a process involving the gathering of information from a variety of sources, in a range of settings, over a period of time. It usually involves children and young people, parents/carers, teachers, and other agencies. Assessment is hypothesis driven and aims to identify a profile of strengths and needs, support psychological formulation and inform future intervention.
  • Intervention is the application of planned strategies aimed at promoting positive learning experiences and supporting psychological wellbeing. Psychologists can advise on, and implement, interventions informed by evidence-based practice. The strategies may be implemented at the level of the individual child, young person or family, at a whole class or other group level, or across a school or organisation.
  • Organisational development work can include training, research and other project work the focuses on enhancing the practices and capacity within educational settings and other children’s services organisations to work effectively and enhance outcomes for children.

Wolverhampton’s Educational Psychology Service offers specialist knowledge and intervention supported by evidence-based theory and research in the following areas, and more:

  • Developing Learning and Cognition
  • Promoting and Supporting Social and Emotional Development and Psychological Well-Being/Mental Health
  • Understanding Behaviour that is Challenging
  • Medical and Physical Developmental Difficulties
  • School and Staff Focused Work including Organisational and Professional Development
  • Language and Communication
  • Early Years Support and Intervention
  • Community Practice
  • Psychological Research, Development and Project Work in Schools