Children and Families Bill unclear on educational psychologists

The Children and Families Bill is unclear about whether local authorities will continue to have a legal duty to provide educational psychologists for SEN assessments.

Kate Fallon, general secretary of the Association of Educational Psychologists, said that without the prescription, councils might choose to save money by not hiring qualified psychologists.

This, she said, would deny children access to specialist services during assessments for special needs statements, which are being changed into education, health and care plans. It would also lead to reduced SEN support through the school system.

“If the way assessments are to be done in the future isn’t prescribed and specified, will that protect children’s rights to have access to special services?” said Fallon.

“At the moment, if school, parents and other settings follow the code of practice, there is access to special professionals for children, not just when they’ve got a statement or a new education health and care plan, but also before that. That advice is being given on a day-to-day basis on the model of early intervention.”

The wording of the bill states that yet-to-be-published SEN regulations “may make provision about education, health and care needs assessments, in particular requiring the attendance of persons of a prescribed description in connection with the assessment”.

Virginia Beardshaw, chief executive of children’s communication charity I Can, said it was essential for multi-disciplinary teams to perform SEN assessments.

“It could potentially be worrying if educational psychologists were not included as a statutory part of the assessment process for education, health and care plans,” she said.

“Multi-disciplinary teams are essential for giving a rounded picture of a child’s needs and to offer the best information to families and schools in how to support them.

“We hope that the Children and Families Bill Committee will listen to the concerns of those in the sector to ensure that integrated plans make a real difference for children with special educational needs and their families.”

A Department for Education spokeswoman said details about local authorities' requirements would be published shortly.

“We want every child and young person with special educational needs to get support right for them," said the spokeswoman.? 

“We know that educational psychologists play an important role in the assessment and planning for children and young people with SEN.

"We will shortly set out proposed requirements to be placed on local authorities during the assessment process for an education, health and care plan, including seeking professional advice.”

The Children and Families Bill Committee was appointed last week and holds its first evidence session today and on Thursday 7 March. It will take evidence twice a week until Tuesday 23 April.