Educational psychologists blast Doncaster over lack of provision

The general secretary of the Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP) has written to every school in Doncaster warning teachers that the council’s decision to cut salaries is making it impossible to recruit staff.

According to Kate Fallon, the council was unable to fill vacancies after it implemented a 2.5 per cent pay cut across the organisation earlier this year, which brought educational psychologists’ pay below the nationally-agreed scale.

This prompted existing staff to move to other local authorities still offering the standard rate, leaving the remaining educational psychologists in the area struggling to meet the needs of vulnerable children and young people.

“It’s entirely possible that schools in Doncaster are already not getting the support they need,” Fallon said.

“As a result of the council’s cuts and its imposition of new and disadvantageous terms and conditions and pay cuts, local educational psychologists are facing an impossible job – while there is absolutely no prospect of the council being able to recruit to meet the demand for its services.

“We are deeply concerned that, left unchecked, the council will be unable to meet its obligations, and that vulnerable children and young people will be left at risk and without vital support.”

AEP members voted to take industrial action against Doncaster last month in response to the situation, but decided not to implement the decision.

Fallon has urged local MPs to intervene at the council, which has received heavy criticism in recent years as a result of failings in its safeguarding provision.