You’ve probably seen us mention that Emma is an EP…but what does that actually mean?🤔
👩🏫 EP = Educational Psychologist
EPs focus on supporting the development, emotional wellbeing, and learning of children and young people aged 0-25. Their work can take place across multiple levels:
Individual – identifying a young person’s strengths and needs through assessments, observations, or consultations.
Group/Class – designing and delivering group interventions or supporting inclusive classroom strategies.
Systemic – working with families, schools, and services to build holistic support systems, develop policy, and provide training to key adults.
EPs can also offer crisis and trauma support following critical incidents like bereavement, accidents, or other significant events that impact schools and communities.
According to the British Psychological Society (BPS), psychologists work across five key functions:
- Assessment
- Consultation and supervision
- Intervention
- Research
- Training
👉 You can read more about these professional standards and expectations here on the BPS website.
🏫 Where Do EPs Work? EPs are employed across a range of settings, including:
- Local Authorities
- Schools and colleges
- Independent/private practice
- Public sector services like CAMHS, youth health, or forensic settings
- Multi-disciplinary teams supporting children and families
🎓 How Do You Become an Educational Psychologist? “Educational Psychologist” is a protected title in the UK, meaning only those with the right qualifications and registration can legally use it.
To become an EP, you must:
- Hold a BPS-accredited undergraduate degree in Psychology
- Complete a three-year Doctorate in Educational Psychology (approved by the Health and Care Professions Council, HCPC)
- Be registered with the HCPC in order to practice
🧠 At ELLES Psychology
We take a strength-based, relational, and neurodiversity-affirming approach to EP work. Whether through assessments, consultations, or training, our goal is always to make support accessible, meaningful, and sustainable.
Our in-house EP, Dr Emma, brings a relational, strengths-based, and creative approach to her work, grounded in evidence and guided by compassion. Whether she’s carrying out assessments, offering supervision, delivering training, or supporting system-wide change in schools, her focus is always on what’s possible, not just what’s “typical.”
And yes, we believe that psychology can (and should) feel human, hopeful, and helpful 💛, and we’re proud to offer just that.
What makes an EP unique is how we combine psychology with real-world understanding of schools, families, and community systems. We don’t just look at the child. We look at their environment, relationships, strengths, and barriers. Then we work collaboratively to find solutions that actually fit.
Most people don’t really know what an Educational Psychologist is until they’re told they need us.. And then sometimes there is no one available for a very long time.
So, what actually is an EP, anyway? Basically?
Someone who blends psychology, education, and a whole lot of heart to help children, young people, families, and professionals better understand how children learn, grow, and cope – especially when things aren’t going to plan.
Educational Psychologists support with things like:
✨ EHCP Applications
✨ Assess learning differences, emotional, and social needs
✨ Communication & Behaviour
✨ Strengths-based Assessments
✨ Special Educational Needs (SEN) & Neurodiversity (Autism, ADHD, AuHD, dyslexia, etc.)
✨ Emotionally-Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
✨ Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health
✨ School Transitions
✨ Trauma or Crisis
✨ Delivering Interventions & Trainings
✨ Inclusive & Supportive Systems
✨ Whole-school Systems & Staff Wellbeing
Whether it’s helping a parent understand their child’s needs, supporting schools to adapt environments, or working one-on-one with young people.
At ELLES, our EP services are always:
💪 Strength-based
💬 Person-centred
🧡 Relationship-led
🧠 Evidence-based
🧩 Neurodiversity-affirming
Want to know how an EP could help your child, family or school? Follow us for more content about what EP involvement looks like, what an EHCP is, and our messages are always open!
