Planning for our 2020 Conference is well under way and our theme this year is:

A 20:20 vision of Educational Psychology: play, learning, inclusion and diversity. An exploration of current developments and advancements within educational psychology

Booking is now open.

Last year at conference we displayed an exhibition of children’s artwork centred on the theme of inclusion and belonging. The exhibition proved so popular we're expanding it this year to include children’s art, music and poetry.

Of course, what makes a conference are the presentations, talks and workshops that our fantastic community bring. The submissions system for conference presentations is now open so please do submit a presentation, workshop or poster.

• Book onto the DECP Conference or submit a presentation, workshop or poster

Every year we also run our Annual TEP Conference. We'd strongly encourage TEPs and newly qualified EPs to take this fantastic opportunity to present your work.

The atmosphere is great and past presenters have commented how supportive the audience are. So submit a presentation abstract or book your place now... it's only £24!

• Book onto the TEP Conference or submit a presentation abstract

For some time our TEP Associate Group (TEPAG) have been liaising with TEP reps, the DECP Committee and the Programme Directors Group to develop a ‘Handbook for Prospective Trainee EPs’.

The handbook will have contributions from current course directors and trainees.

It’s designed to be a ‘one-stop-shop’ for information about all the courses, that prospective applicants might find helpful - this includes information about the cities that the courses are based in.

TEPAG are aiming for an autumn publication - so keep an eye on Twitter and Facebook for more news.

The annual ‘A day in the life of an TEP’ event took place on Friday 19th July.

Although only a few years old, this has proved to be a hugely popular and energetic day as trainees from around the country get together to discuss cases, tools and techniques and reflect on their journey through training so far. 

The line-up this year was great:

Casework presentations

• Gender variance
• Children exposed to drug and alcohol
• Cultural differences

Workshops

• Coaching Senior Leaders in schools
• Dynamic assessment
• Using therapeutic stories
• Publishing

Discussions

• Ethics of trading
• EPs and Multi-agency working
• Children and Young Peoples voice in ASC diagnosis
• Boys social emotional and mental health

Last week the DfE announced that it had pulled together a panel of 26 experts to ‘drive “real change” in support of teachers’ wellbeing’.

• DfE Press Release

Not withstanding the headline, the DECP is concerned that there are no educational psychologists on this panel.

EPs drive real change for teachers in practice. As professionals we are among the few that support teachers directly (through coaching, supervision etc.) and indirectly (through enhancing and supporting school systems work).

EPs support teachers under stress every day, it is a core element of our role and EPs have developed an extensive research evidence base on the topic of teacher’s stress.

Members can be assured that we are exploring and fully committed to ensuring that EPs have the opportunity to contribute to this important topic.

In June we launched our Position Paper on Children’s Right to Play.

The paper focused on the importance of play, barriers to play, and stated our position, which was drawn from concerns about diminishing opportunities for play in the lives of children.

Authored by educational psychologists and play specialists, the position paper has proven incredibly popular, with coverage in The Independent, The Telegraph and TES.

• Read our position paper 'Children's right to play'

• Coverage of the paper in The Independent

• Coverage of the paper in The Telegraph

• Coverage of the paper in TES

We’re keen to build on the success of this paper and have some exciting work planned as a committee and in liaison with the authors.

We’re particularly keen to seek young people’s views about play and indeed about the position paper and will be in discussion with the BPS about the various creative options available to us to do this.

Building on the 2019 BPS Senate campaign of improving children and young people’s mental-health and wellbeing, the DECP is supporting the 2020 Senate campaign proposal ‘From Poverty to Flourishing’.

• Read about the 2019 BPS Senate Campaign

This proposal will seek to highlight the impact that poverty has across the lifespan. Latest estimates suggest that 4.5 million children are living in poverty in the UK and, as a professional group, we are acutely aware of the effect this has on children and young people, particularly in relation to their time in school and wellbeing.  

At our 2018 conference Dr. Laura Winter reiterated that the World Health Organisation had identified poverty, among other things, to be a social determinant of mental health problems.

• WHO paper 'Social determinants of mental health'

While much is currently being discussed regarding supporting individual children who are currently experiencing particular difficulties, we support the focus on wider, systemic causes of psychological distress and are keen to support this proposal to ensure that the government understands the very real impact of poverty on children, families and communities.

This award is open to members of the DECP. It is given to an educational psychologist who has made or is making an outstanding contribution to professional practice in the UK.

Nominations should take the form of a narrative (1000 words maximum) highlighting the candidate’s achievements and the grounds for proposing them.

The person nominated must be a DECP member and each nomination requires two nominators, who need not be members.

• Make a nomination

Please note: you will need the BPS membership number of the person you are nominating.

Schools should never use the threat of taking away break or lunch time from school children as a punishment, or when they are forced to catch up on unfinished work, says a new position paper from the DECP.

• Read more about this

The Department for Education is seeking views on the development of character and resilience in young people.

• Read more about this

The Centre for Mental Health is now seeking evidence from organisations to share their knowledge, experience and understanding of mental health inequalities.

• Read more about this

Calling for nominations and resolution items

The Annual General Meeting of the Division of Educational and Child Psychology will be held on Thursday 9 January 2020, 1.00pm at Park Inn by Radisson, Silver Street, Northampton, NN1 2TA

You must be signed-in to access the following material

• Access the Notice for details of the positions calling for nominations (members only)
• Download further information on roles
• Submit an nomination form
• Submit an resolution item

Deadline: 12 noon on Thursday 28 November 2019

The proposer and seconder, will need to send separately an email from their Society-registered email address, including their membership number - to Member Network Services, stating they are happy to propose or second the nominee. Please note that it is the nominee's responsibility that your proposer and seconder email Member Network Services confirming that they are happy to support your nomination.

If you have any queries regarding the AGM, nominations or resolutions please email Member Network Services

The Annual General Meeting of the Division of Educational and Child Psychology -  Northern Ireland (DECP NI) will be held on Friday 12 April 2019, 1:00 PM, at Castle Upton Suite, Hilton Belfast Templepatrick Golf & Country Club, Paradise Walk, Templepatrick BT39 0DD.

You must be signed-in to access the following materials

• Download the agenda and reports (member only)

If you have any queries regarding the AGM, nominations or resolutions please email Member Network Services.