Educational Psychology Service (EPS) - Information for professionals

This page has lots of information from the Educational Psychology Service for professionals working with children/young people in Bath and North East Somerset. Please expand the section to explore further.

October 2020 - Josie Bainton has had part of her doctoral thesis published in the School Psychology International Journal. The title is ‘The impact of reduced sleep on school related outcomes for typically developing children aged 11–19: A systematic review’

EPS Offer to education providers 2023-2024

The EPS Offer includes access to a free 1 hour individual consultation to talk about individual concerns relating to school, staff and/or children and young people. This can include concerns related to emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA). The advice line is also open to early years settings staff. Email psychology_service@bathnes.gov.uk to book an advice line slot with an educational psychologist. 

 

EPS Training Offer to Education Providers

The B&NES EPS offers bespoke training/CPD options for education settings and other services.  This can be to individual settings/services, or organised across settings (e.g. to academy clusters). Training can be delivered to whole school/service teams or to particular groups (e.g. teaching staff, senior leaders, support staff).  Examples of topic areas are identified below.

We are also able to deliver bespoke training on a wide range of areas relating to, for example, young people’s learning, social and emotional and other developmental needs, staff support, and school/organisational development.  Please contact the EPS to discuss. 

Arrangements and what to expect

To request training/CPD please complete a request for training form (linked below) and e-mail to psychology_service@bathnes.gov.uk .  This will help us to gain a thorough understanding of what you are looking for and what changes you hope the training will help you to facilitate.  If you would like to talk to an EP about potential training before completing the form, please do contact the EPS or get in touch with your link EP.  An EP will then be in contact to arrange a phone call with a senior leader or whoever is requesting the training to discuss this further, including intended outcomes and practicalities.

Included in the cost of the training is a one-hour follow-up session.  This could be a workshop with the training attendees or a consultation with a senior leader.  The aim of this session is to support the implementation of intended changes/outcomes. We require a minimum of a term’s (approximately 7 weeks’) notice between the initial request and training delivery.  

Timings and costs
Most training areas will require a minimum of a half-day’s training.  However, this could be split over two twilight/after-school sessions. Please contact the EPS to discuss training costs.

 

Example of training topic areas:

Attachment

  • What is meant by attachment?
  • Different attachment styles and how they develop
  • Supporting different attachment styles
  • Classroom strategies

Trauma 

  • What is trauma? Exploring different types
  • Trauma and its effect on the brain
  • Trauma’s effect on different systems (e.g. threat system, reward system, memory system, sensory processing)
  • Trauma informed classroom strategies

Emotion Coaching

  • Meaning and importance of emotional intelligence
  • Recognising and empathising with emotions
  • Labelling and validating emotions
  • Setting limits
  • Problem solving
  • Emotion coaching in practise.

Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)  

  • What is EBSA?
  • Context
  • Recognising EBSA
  • Contributing factors
  • Maintenance cycle
  • Support and strategies

ADHD 

  • What is ADHD?
  • Functions affected
  • Range of presentations
  • Impact on learning
  • Social and emotional impact
  • Myths
  • Strategies

Executive functioning, including working memory 

  • Overview of executive functions
  • What executive functions are used for
  • Supporting executive functioning in students
  • Strategies and resources

Metacognition

  • What is metacognition?
  • Different aspects of metacognition
  • Importance in learning
  • Strategies for including metacognition as continuous provision

Training content will be tailored to suit the needs of the recipients (e.g. considering existing knowledge and context). This will be discussed one the training request has been received. 

INVEST

The INVEST approach has been created by Nik Hobson (SENCO, Broadlands School) to support children and young people, particularly those who have special educational needs. It’s a great acronym to highlight key strategies and approaches to promote effective learning, engagement and interactions. Nik is happy for SENCOs to use this in their schools. Please acknowledge Nik and Broadlands staff when sharing it.

Wellbeing for Education Return / Recovery

The EPS has been involved in supporting the Wellbeing for Education Return / Recovery support package for schools. Please see information in the Power Point below:

 

 

As part of the WER offer, the Educational Psychology Service is offering a free and confidential one hour consultation to staff in early years settings, schools and post-16 providers. This is an opportunity to talk with an educational psychologist about any concerns related to emotional wellbeing. To book a call, please email psychology_service@bathnes.gov.uk and an educational psychologist will be in touch with you to schedule a call. 

 

Executive Functioning

You will find information about Executive Functioning within the Professionals section. You will be able to access this information only when logged in to your authorised account.

Literacy Documents from EPS

You will find lots of literacy related documents from the Educational Psychology Service on the Literacy - EPS page. 

**To view the above information, you need to be logged into your professionals account. If you are a SENCo and already have an account to view the relevant documents, you will now be able to see these documents when you are logged in. If you don't have an account, click on the link above to request access. 

Race Equality Schools Partnership

The Race Equality Schools Partnership is made up of a wide group of local organisations working to promote race equality in schools across Bath and North East Somerset. There are representatives from local schools, Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES), Stand Against Racism & Inequality  (SARI), Black Families Education Support Group, Off The Record (OTR) and Avon and Somerset Police.

Further information and links to resources can be found on The Hub:
https://thehub.bathnes.gov.uk/Page/24870

MeLSA and ELSA Training

MeLSA is a training and supervision programme designed to build the capacity of schools to support the learning needs of students that present with a level of additional learning need. 

·       Emotional Literacy Support Assistant training (ELSA)

·       Mediated Learning Support Assistant training(MeLSA)

Other Useful Resources

Virtual Schools resources

The EPS provides dedicated time to the Virtual School and has produced a range of useful resources. These can be found on the Virtual Schools Training Resources webpage.

There are lots of resources on the Southend EPS page, but remember that area specific information won't be the same for those living/working in B&NES.