DECP responds to report from Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and the challenges facing the educational psychology workforce

The Division of Educational and Child Psychology shares the disappointment of the LGSC Ombudsman that the foreseeable educational psychology workforce capacity issues have not been addressed sooner. It is also deeply concerned about the impact of this shortage on the ability of children and young people to get timely access to Education, Health and Care Needs assessments, and early intervention support and services.

Dr Gavin Morgan, chair of the DECP, said:

"While this report is in response to a complaint related directly to one local authority, the situation is being seen and felt in increasing numbers across the country and will only resolve with serious investment in the educational psychology workforce and by respecting and listening to the voice of educational psychologists.

"The capacity issues within the educational psychology workforce have been foreseeable, and it is regrettable they have not been addressed sooner when the impact on our children is so severe.

"The government has made various announcements about the funding it is putting into SEND services and support. While this is welcome, it is insufficient to meet the ever-increasing demand.

"The gap between the funding provided and the funding required is further exacerbated by the factors associated with inflation, the failure to invest in public services over the last 14 years and the cost-of-living crisis which means the most vulnerable children often arrive at school hungry, cold and unable to learn effectively.

"A Department for Education report published in 2023 found that 96 per cent of those local authorities reporting recruitment and/or retention issues with the educational psychologist workforce stated that these difficulties affected outcomes for children and young people requiring support, which is hugely concerning.

"We want to see an urgent increase in the educational psychology workforce which reflects adequate funding in all the areas required to achieve this, including university education and local authority placement supervision. As well as this, we need a root and branch review of the factors underpinning the huge increases in EHC Needs assessments and the SEND system, with educational psychologists having a key voice in these discussions."

Read a full explainer from the DECP about the current challenges facing the educational psychology workforce and the rise in EHCP requests.