Educational psychologists say the “constant cycle of not being able to do enough” amid spiralling workloads and funding shortfalls leaves schools without support and leads to unnecessary exclusions.
Members of the Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP) went on strike for the first time in decades on Wednesday after voting in favour of industrial action over last year’s pay offer, a rise of £1,925 that averaged 3 per cent.
Psychologists play a fundamental role in assessing the needs of children with SEND. But their numbers are falling as the requests for education, health and care plan (EHCP) assessments soar, up 77.3 per cent since 2017.
Schools Week analysis of local authority data estimates there are 360 fewer full-time EPs compared with 2010.
