Directory of Services
- Adoption Support Team
- Area SENCOs
- Children with Disabilities
- County Psychologist Service
- Education Welfare Service
- Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties Support Team
- Pupil Referral Unit
- Hospital and Home Tuition Service
- Looked After Children Education Services
- Parent Support Advisors
- Social Care
- Special Educational Needs
- Specialist Advisory Teaching Service
Introduction to Service/Eligibility Criteria
What do Educational Psychologists do?
The County Psychological Service works within Children's Services and makes its distinctive contribution through applying psychology to help people solve problems and improve learning. This may be at an individual level where young people are having difficulty at school/setting. It may also be at an institutional level, working on wider issues with schools or other settings to help all children be as successful as possible.
How are these services delivered?
Educational Psychologists sometimes work directly with young people in the age range 0 - 19 years on a wide variety of issues relating to their progress and development. However, much of our work is done with other people who know and work with children and young people.
Educational Psychologists offer a range of services. For example, we offer:
- Training to schools and support with whole school initiatives
- Consultation and advice to staff in schools and early years settings
- Consultation to Parents and Carers
- Observation and assessment of groups or individual pupils
- Work with schools to develop interventions and approaches for groups or for individuals who are referred via the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice
- The Psychological Advice that is required for all Statutory Assessments of children's Special Educational Needs
- Contribute to selected Annual Reviews of children with Statements of Special Educational Needs
- Work with other agencies within Children's Services and beyond, for example the voluntary sector and Health
- Support for schools when they have particular needs, for example following critical incidents such as bereavement, staff stress or in terms of particular school improvement issues
- Carry out development work, research, training and project work for the Local Authority
Supporting Information Required
What supporting information is required beyond the CAF Pre-assessment Checklist and the standard Children's Services Single Referral Form?
For advice and support on issues other than referrals of individual children, please consult initially with the educational psychologist who regularly visits your school/setting.
For referrals of individual children, we work within the framework of the national National Special Educational Needs Code of Practice 2001. We would therefore normally expect that schools and settings would have offered pupils support at 'School Action'/'Early Years Action', using their internal resources and reviewing and recording progress, before formally referring the pupil to the County Psychological Service. We would also expect the child's parents/carers so have been consulted, and the views of the child to have been considered. Please include with your referral:
- Evidence that the parent(s)/carer(s) have given permission for the CPS to be involved
- The pupil's current Individual Education Plan (IEP) or its Early Years equivalent e.g. Family File (Early Support) or Learning Journey (Cumbria EY Foundation Stage IEP).
- The pupil's previous, reviewed IEP, or Early Years equivalent
- Any available, relevant reports from other agencies.
If you require advice in respect of a pupil who has not been supported at 'School Action', please consult with the psychologist who regularly visits your school.
Contact Details
Where should referral forms and any additional information be sent?
Each school has its own Educational Psychologist, and current contacts are listed in the School Link Officers document.
Carlisle & Eden
County Psychological Service
The Newbeck Centre
Wigton Road
Carlisle
Cumbria
CA2 6LB
Tel: 01228 60 6824
Allerdale & Copeland
County Psychological Service
Whitehaven Area Education Office
Melbreak House
Main Street
Hensingham
Whitehaven
CA28 8TH
Tel: 01946 595337
Barrow
County Psychological Service
Barrow Area Education Office
The Nan Tait Centre
Abbey Road
Barrow-in-Furness
LA14 1LG
Tel: 01229 89 4406
South Lakes
County Psychological Service
Kendal Area Education Office
County Offices
Busher Walk
Kendal
LA9 4RQ
Tel: 01539 77 3459