Educational Psychologists are based in each of the five locality areas of the City (East, West, Coalfields, Washington and the North)
Educational Psychologists are graduate psychologists with additional postgraduate training. Many are also trained and experienced teachers who have worked in schools. They advise the Local Authority on children and young people with special and additional educational needs and other vulnerabilities.
Educational Psychologists also provide support to Strengthening Families panels and through their strategic work in the Local Authority.
Requests for Educational Psychology involvement require the consent of the parent or carer and can be made by the nursery or school or any agency involved with the child.
Requests can be made either directly to the Service or through the Locality Strengthening Families Panel. Other than the work relating to Formal Statutory Assessment of Statement Review, Educational Psychology involvement may require the agreement by the nursery or school to purchase the service.
Direct requests can be made by nurseries and schools who have purchased a Service Level Agreement by completing an Agreement for Educational Psychology Involvement form and sending it to the Stanfield Business Centre, Addison Street, Sunderland SR2 8SZ.
Other requests can be made by completing a Strengthening Families Referral Form and sending it to: Strengthening Families Business Support, Admin. and PA Support Team, Commercial and Corporate Services Directorate, Room 1.83, 1st Floor, Civic Centre, Burdon Road, Sunderland, SR2 7DN.
Criteria for access
For children and young people undergoing a Formal Statutory Assessment of Special Educational Needs (SEN), an Educational Psychologist will provide an in depth assessment and set of recommendations. When a child or young person has a Statement of SEN or an Education Health and Care Plan, and a revision or amendment is required by the SEN Unit, an Educational Psychologist will provide further assessment and advice.
When an education nursery or school has agreed to purchase services from the Local Authority, Educational Psychologists from the Sunderland Service help to advise schools and parents/carers on programmes, strategies and resources to support pupils with a wide range of needs.