Division of Educational and Child Psychology

• A resilience and coping framework for supporting transitions back to school
• Supporting care-experienced children and young people during the Covid-19 crisis and its aftermath
• Guide for commissioners of educational psychology services
• Quality Standards for Educational Psychology Services: Framework
• Quality Standards for Educational Psychology Services: Summary
• Guidance on the completion of psychological advice for education health and care plans
• Ethical Trading: Guidelines for practice for educational psychologists (2nd edition)
• Non-pharmacological interventions to support children who have difficulties with attention, activity and impulsivity
• Guidance for Educational Psychologists providing advice and information for Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments
• Clarifying and developing the role of the EP in relation to all aspects of Parent and Carer Partnership, Advocacy and Training
• Delivering Psychological Therapies in Schools and Communities
• Promoting Racial Equality within Educational Psychology Services: A report from the DECP Working Party on Anti-Racism
• Welcoming and supporting refugee children - information for schools

The Division of Educational and Child Psychology (DECP) Supervision Working Group met in 2024, during the consultation period for the BPS Practice Guidelines on Supervision to produce this guidance.

The guidance is intended to:

• Supplement the BPS Supervision Guidance for Psychologists and therefore to be read alongside it with reference to specific sections noted
• Have a practical focus and include tools to support educational psychologists in their daily supervision practice

View our Professional Supervision Resources

Appendices

• Professional Supervision Resources for Educational Psychologists - Appendix 1. Supervision contract template
• Professional Supervision Resources for Educational Psychologists - Appendix 4. Supervisor competencies
• Professional Supervision Resources for Educational Psychologists - Appendix 5. Example of supervision recording form
• Professional Supervision Resources for Educational Psychologists - Appendix 6. Supervision policy template

• Applied Educational Psychology with 16–25 Year Olds
• British Educational Psychology: The first 100 years
• Using qualitative research to hear the voice of children and young people: The work of British educational psychologists

DECP Annual Conference 2022: Position Papers

• The role of educational psychology in promoting inclusive education
• Children's Right to Play
• Educational Psychology Assessment in Scotland (2014)
• Discussion Paper - Climate Crisis, Children and Young People

This annual award recognises and celebrates exceptional and sustained contributions to a career as an educational psychologist.

It is anticipated that this award will be made to an educational psychologist near or after the end of their career.

A commemorative certificate will be presented to the recipient at an appropriate Division of Educational Psychology Conference. The recipient will receive one day attendance at the annual conference and will also be invited to deliver an address at the conference.

Criteria

Nominees should be:

• Current or retired educational psychology practitioners in any area of professional educational psychology.
• Members of the society and DECP.

Please note: nominations are not limited to UK residents.

Self-nominations are acceptable and you should provide a supporting statement from a full divisional member 

Nominees should have:

• Demonstrated exceptional practice over a significant period of time, including impact outside their primary job role. This award is for lifetime achievement rather than a single contribution.
• Enjoyed outstanding personal achievement and reinvested in psychology through encouraging and developing others.
• Displayed wisdom and depth of service/leadership that has made a significant difference to a number of individuals or groups. 

Read more about the scoring and judgement process for the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Judging process

Awards will be judged by a panel of Psychologists from the Division of Educational and Child Psychology Committee.

The Award

The winner will be gifted a day pass for DECP's annual Conference in 2025 and an invitation to the gala awards dinner. Reasonable expenses will also be covered.

They will also receive an e-certificate for their achievement.

How to apply

Now closed – opening July 2025.

This annual award is aimed at educational psychologists (including trainees) in recognition of a particularly innovative piece of research. 

The Innovation and Impact in Research award celebrates the high-quality research that is published each year within the field of Educational Psychology in the UK.

This award can be made to psychologists at any stage in their careers.

The award will confer a commemorative certificate, which will be presented to the recipient at an appropriate Division of Educational Psychology conference. 

Criteria

Nominees should be:

• Current (or recently retired) practitioners in any area of professional educational psychology.
• Members of the society and DECP.

Please note: nominations are not limited to UK residents.

Self-nominations are acceptable and you should provide a supporting statement from a full DECP member

Nominees should have:

• Be instrumental in the development of an innovative piece of research (we welcome nominations for all types of research, small or large scale, using a wide variety of research methods).
• Improved psychological knowledge and understanding.
• Had a positive impact on individuals, communities or organisations.
• Publication of the research in a peer-reviewed journal within the last 12 months is a requirement for this award

Read more about the scoring and judgement process for the Innovation and Impact Award.

Judging process

Awards will be judged by a panel of Psychologists from the Division of Educational and Child Psychology Committee.

The Award

The winner will be gifted a day pass for DECP's annual Conference in 2025 and an invitation to the gala awards dinner. Reasonable expenses will also be covered.

They will also receive an e-certificate for their achievement.

How to apply

Now closed – opening July 2025.

This annual award recognises practitioner educational psychologists at any stage of their career for work that has made an outstanding contribution to a particular area, for the benefit of people and organisations. 

We believe that such contributions to educational psychology practice are possible regardless of how long you have been in the profession and so this award is for practitioners at any stage of their career, including training.

Nominations are now open. 

The award will confer a commemorative certificate, which will be presented to the recipient at an appropriate Division of Educational Psychology conference 

Criteria

Nominees should be:

• Current practitioners in any area of professional educational psychology.
• Members of the society.

Please note: nominations are not limited to UK residents.

Self-nominations are acceptable and you should provide a supporting statement from a full divisional member 

Nominees will have:

• Made a distinguished contribution in one particular work stream or project area (rather than a culmination of a career in educational psychology).
• Improved psychological knowledge and understanding in the particular area.
• Had a positive impact on individuals, communities or organisations.
• Demonstrated high standards of ethics and conduct
• Made informed use of theory, research and literature to shape practice

Read more about the scoring and judgement process for the Distinguished Contribution Award.

Judging process

Awards will be judged by a panel of Psychologists from the Division of Educational and Child Psychology Committee.

The Award

The winner will be gifted a day pass for DECP's annual Conference in 2025 and an invitation to the gala awards dinner. Reasonable expenses will also be covered.

They will also receive an e-certificate for their achievement.

How to apply

Now closed – opening July 2025.

The EP Doctoral Dissertation Award recognises the excellent research that is produced each year by trainee EPs and those on CPD doctorate courses as part of their thesis projects.

We recognise that these substantial research projects often demonstrate high levels of innovation and quality, though may not be published in peer-reviewed journals. We are keen to celebrate this research output and would welcome nominations for research that demonstrates originality and has already 'made an impact'.

This annual award is aimed at DECP members who have completed their thesis within the last two years and been awarded their doctorate – this includes both initial training and CPD Doctorates.

The award will confer a commemorative certificate, which will be presented to the recipient at an appropriate Division of Educational Psychology conference 

Criteria

Nominees should be:

• Current practitioners in any area of professional educational psychology.
• Members of the society.

Please note: nominations are not limited to UK residents.

Self-nominations are acceptable and you will also need to provide a statement of support (up to 250 words) from your thesis supervisor or programme team. This should include their name, role and institution.  

Nominees should have:

• Shown innovation or originality (for example: in topic area, research methods, sample population, findings).
• Made a strong contribution to the profession's research and evidence base through their dissertation or thesis
• Demonstrated impact from the research (for example: in the profession or community). This is impact in the broadest sense e.g. changing practice in a local area or evidence of how the research findings and implications have been disseminated.
• Completed their thesis within the last two years.

Please note that publication in a peer-reviewed journal is not required for this award.

Read more about the scoring and judgement process for the Doctoral Dissertation Award.

Judging process

Awards will be judged by a panel of Psychologists from the Division of Educational and Child Psychology Committee.

The Award

The winner will be gifted a day pass for DECP's annual Conference in 2025 and an invitation to the gala awards dinner. Reasonable expenses will also be covered.

They will also receive an e-certificate for their achievement.

How to apply

Now closed – opening July 2025.

2021: DECP  Lifetime Achievement Award - Dr Mark Fox and Dr Tony Cline

2021: DECP Distinguished contribution to Practice Award - Dave Traxson

2021: DECP EP doctoral dissertation Award - Rebekah Boyd

2020: DECP Outstanding Contributions to Education and Child Psychology - Julian Elliott

2019: DECP Outstanding Contributions to Education and Child Psychology - Jane Leadbetter

2018: DECP Outstanding Contributions to Education and Child Psychology - Simon Gibbs

2017: DECP Outstanding Contributions to Education and Child Psychology - Irvine Gersch

2016: DECP Outstanding Contributions to Education and Child Psychology - Norah Frederickson

2015: DECP Outstanding Contributions to Education and Child Psychology - Min O'Hara

2014: DECP Outstanding Contributions to Education and Child Psychology - Hillary Kennedy

2013: DECP Outstanding Contributions to Education and Child Psychology - Keith Venables

2012: DECP Outstanding Contributions to Education and Child Psychology - Patsy Wagner

2011: DECP Outstanding Contributions to Education and Child Psychology - Anne Peake

2010: DECP Outstanding Contributions to Education and Child Psychology - Sean Cameron

2009 DECP Outstanding Contributions to Education and Child Psychology - Andy Miller

Criteria

• The applicant/s must be a full member of the DECP and must be a practising educational and child psychologist.
• The applicant/s should be able to demonstrate competencies in an area of applied research through the research proposal.
• The research area identified must clearly relate sound psychological theory to a significant aspect of applied practice.
• The research proposal must demonstrate direct potential benefit to the members of the DECP in their work with schools, children, and young people.
• The research proposal must state explicitly the theoretical underpinnings of the work, the research questions and/or hypothesis under investigation and the methodology (including evaluation), with projected time-scale.
• The research proposal must state explicitly related ethical considerations and must state where ethical clearance for the project will be received from.
• In addition to research proposals that stand in their own right, consideration will also be given to proposals where a pilot piece of research would be DECP sponsored but where there are indications of it leading to major research funding. Research that is a development of work undertaken as part of initial training would also be considered.
• The application should provide an outline of research work that enhances the development of professional practice.

Sponsorship

Total sponsorship is set at a maximum of £5,000 per annum and this will be spread across one or more projects.

Final decisions about the allocation of funding will be communicated to applicants by 16 February 2024. 

Application information

Applications should be organized into the following sections and submitted as a single PDF file to [email protected].

The deadline for applications is 15 December 2023.

• Title Page: This page should include the title of the study; the principal investigator/co-principal investigator(s), their affiliation(s), and contact information (email addresses, phone numbers).
• Non-technical abstract (300 words): for the lay person outlining the aim of the research, proposed methodology, anticipated outcomes, and anticipated impact in the field of child and educational psychology.
• Scientific Rationale for Proposal (1000 words): Describe the main aims and research questions and/or hypotheses to be addressed, and the intended outcomes of the project.  Provide a short theoretical, empirical rationale for the proposed project. Describe the research design, participants, measures and/or variables, proposed data analyses and expected outcomes etc. A clear justification needs to be provided about the proposed research design and methods to be used. A section outlining the key ethical considerations of the project should be included.
• Knowledge exchange (500 words): Describe any research activities (if applicable) that might bring together academics, users of research and wider groups and communities to exchange ideas, evidence and expertise.
• Sustainable development goals (500 words): Briefly describe which SDGs (if applicable) the research is aligned with.
• Impact (500 words): Specify possible short- and long-term impacts this research will have on child and educational psychology research and practice.
• Management Plan (300 words): Provide a management plan with a timeline,  person(s) responsible for the activities, key milestones for success in meeting project aims.
• CVs: Brief curriculum vitae (up to 2 pages) for the principal investigator/co-investigator(s).
• Budget: Provide detailed estimates of funds and what they will be used for
• References: Include two references or letters of support.

Money will be paid retrospectively on submission of receipts. Submissions for reimbursements must be made within 18 months.

A mid project report must be submitted to DECP outlining progress so far, major milestones achieved and updated information on budget expenses.

A final report must be submitted to the DECP at the end of the project within one year following the completion of the project.

Any publication or conference presentation which arises out of this work should acknowledge the funding provided by the DECP.

Successful applicants will be asked to present their work on the DECP annual conference and/ or publish their work on ECP/ Debate. 

Funding is not available for direct contribution to any course fees, or for corporate bids.

5 bursaries will offer full day attendance on 11 January and 5 bursaries will offer full attendance on 12 January. Bursaries will cover the conference fees, however accommodation and travel costs will not be covered.

Applicants would be required to arrange and cover their own travel costs, and accommodation if required.

The DECP intend for the bursaries to offer colleagues support and the opportunity to attend the conference. It is not the DECP committee's intention to substitute any responsibility from an employer to support their continuing professional development, but to offer the bursary in cases where the member does not have the financial resources to attend, despite trying to secure funding from their employer.

Conditions

Bursaries are available to members of the DECP only, and will be allocated based on the order in which they are received. Any applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Incomplete, incorrect forms will not be accepted.

Please note that if you are successful in obtaining a bursary and then fail to attend the conference without evidence of acceptable extenuating (non-work related) circumstances, then you will be charged the cost price for the place. This is to avoid the DECP paying colleagues who then choose simply not to attend, which incurs an unrecoverable cost to the divisional membership.

Assessment criteria

The eligibility criterion for the bursary is:

• The applicant must demonstrate how they will secure their travel and accommodation costs.
• The applicant must have made attempts to secure funding from their employer in the first instance.

How to apply

The only way to apply for a bursary is by using the link below. No other form of application will be accepted.

The deadline to submit a bursary application is 17:00 on Friday 15 December 2023.

Submit a bursary application here

Helena is a Senior Educational Psychologist working at Norfolk County Council, and is the Programme Director for the University of East London's Doctorate in Education and Child Psychology. She has previously held a committee role on the DECP and was a contributing member for the BPS' Covid-19 Co-ordinating Group. 

Her multinational work has focused on special educational needs, asylum seekers and children in care, and her published work includes papers in the Division's journals: DECP Debate and Educational and Child Psychology.

Dr Cynthia Pinto is chair elect of the Division of Child and Educational Psychology' and works for Hillingdon Educational Psychology Service.

Cynthia is currently involved with three projects for the DECP. She has been working with the Joint Professionals Liaison Group to develop guidance for EPs when providing statutory advice.

In addition, Cynthia is involved in the BPS's Psychological Government programme which has produced a report examining the stressors faced by those working in the House of Commons.

Finally, Cynthia is working on a paper reviewing alternatives to medication for children and young people with an ADHD diagnosis. She is a joint Year One co-ordinator at University College London (UCL), Institute of Education.

Vivian is chairing the Literacy Difficulties Working Group, which includes representatives from Local Authority services, University departments, NAPEP and the AEP and is developing new policy and practice guidance for EPs working with children with literacy difficulties.

Vivian chaired the BPS working group that developed the curriculum for extended training in educational psychology, and supports the organisation of the annual DECP Trainee Conference.

She is part of the BPS Medicalization of Childhood working group and spoke at a House of Commons debate on this subject.

In March 2020 she was asked to lead the BPS COVID-19 Co-ordinating Group's Isolation and Confinement work strand. She is also representing the DECP in the BPS Poverty to Flourishing Campaign. 

Vivian has a keen interest in the role of research in developing the professional knowledge and skills base of applied educational psychologists. Areas of research interest include: the links between emotional development and mental health and wellbeing, the influences of life experience on cognitive development and learning, attachment theory, contemporary models and understandings of intelligence, the educational experiences of children in public care, Autistic Spectrum Conditions, children's mental health and well-being, the rights of all children and in particular those with additional needs, specific learning difficulties and promoting equal opportunities.

Vivian actively promotes and engages in multi-disciplinary training activities and has an interest in community safeguarding. Vivian has been involved in a number of documentaries for the BBC and Channel Four promoting the contribution of educational psychology. 

Bio to follow.

Denise achieved a BA in Education from the University of Greenwich. She taught in primary schools for 8 years before embarking on training to become an Educational Psychologist.

Denise attained an MSc in Educational Psychology from University College London and she started working as a fully qualified Educational Psychologist in the London Borough of Lambeth in 2005.

In 2014, Denise successfully completed a Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology, and then soon after she returned to the University of Greenwich, this time as a senior lecturer. In 2021, Denise achieved promotion to Associate Professor in Child and Educational Psychology.

At present, as a programme leader, senior lecturer and child and educational psychologist in private practice, Denise currently works in early years, primary and secondary school settings, as well as, further and higher education, and clinical and legal (i.e., expert witness and tribunal) contexts. Denise is passionate about undertaking research that involves examining marginalised educational professional's and children and young people's experiences in the education sector.

Callum Urquhart is an Educational Psychologist working in the Education Authority Northern Ireland.

Callum is the Chair of the Division of Educational and Child Psychology Committee in Northern Ireland (DECP NI).

Sue Franklin

Since February 2021 I have been the Principal Educational Psychologist and Head of Inclusion Support Services in Brighton & Hove.  Prior to that I began my educational psychologist career in the London Borough of Lambeth having graduated from the Tavistock MSc course in 2004. 

I became Principal in Lambeth in September 2014 at the start of the SEND reforms and in 2019 my post was extended to become head of pupil support services.  Since becoming a PEP I have become fascinated with the importance of leadership underpinned by psychological theory.  I am in the latter stages of the UCL DEdPsy doctoral CPD course, where my thesis focuses on leadership and the application of positioning theory.  My passion for leadership is linked to my passion for the profession of educational psychology. 

I believe that where a PEP is positioned in a Local Authority and how the PEP uses psychology within the strategic levels of the organisation, as well as in the operational and relationship levels, can ensure that our workforce has the agency it needs to do the work that will create the best outcomes for children, families and educational settings.

Claire Darwin

Bio TBA.

Dr Juliet Whitehead is Assistant Principal Educational Psychologist working for Coventry City Council. 

Since returning from Juliet Whitehead - Committee bio picmaternity leave last year, I have become an associate DECP committee member. Prior to this, I served on the committee for 10 years.

I have carried out a range of roles including Conference Lead, Honorary Secretary and Chair. It has been a pleasure contributing to numerous DECP working groups and publications including Ethical Trading, Leadership for Educational Psychologists, the Medicalisation of Childhood and Mental Health.

Kim is an educational psychologist, working in Kingston and Richmond, and the Honorary Secretary of the DECP committee.

She works as an EP for a community interest company that provides local authority services and part of her role involves supporting children who are looked after, through the Virtual School. Kim completed her Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology at UCL in 2016, and worked in Greenwich following this.

Her interests include promoting the psychological wellbeing of children and the adults who support them, improving outcomes for looked-after children and evidence-based practice.

• Access to a members only area of the DECP website with presentations and handouts from previous CPD events
• Access to news, guidance and resources
• A copy of DECP Debate, quarterly
• A copy of Educational and Child Psychology, quarterly
• Dedicated CPD events for trainee and newly qualified educational psychologists
• Discounts on CPD opportunities, books, and conferences hosted by the DECP
• Opportunities to contribute to and participate in the work of the DECP, raising awareness of children and young peoples' psychological and learning needs
• Opportunities to publish and disseminate research through the division's publications and conferences
• Opportunities for trainees to get involved as representatives and/or associates
• The opportunity to contribute to the promotion and development of the educational psychology profession

The Division of Educational and Child Psychology (DECP) uses its membership announcement email list to inform its members of activities and initiatives that are relevant to their interests and to make requests for engagement on topical issues. 

By becoming a member of the DECP you are automatically added to the announcement list.

To receive these emails you will need to:

1. become a member of the DECP
2. opt into receiving email communication and provide a working email address

These preferences can be updated by logging into your member portal.

If you have any queries, please contact Member Network Services.

To assist us in responding to your query please make sure to include your membership number and quote 'DECP announcement email' in the subject line.

The Division of Education and Child Psychology relies on a wide range of people getting involved, and the work of the Division is largely achieved through the dedication of unpaid volunteers.

Our volunteers come from a wide range of different backgrounds, whether they be practitioners or academics, or full members or in-training members, and together form an open and inclusive community.