Assessment

Our principle method for assessment is through consultation, which provides an approach within which the psychologist will:

• gather information,
• test out hypotheses,
• problem-solve,
• identify appropriate interventions,
• review the effectiveness of these interventions.

For additional details on how we work see our Consultation and Service Delivery Page on our Practitioners Blog.

Educational Psychologists may also consider it appropriate to use other in-person assessment and intervention methods with children. These can include observations, dynamic assessment,  aptitude or ability tests, checklists or questionnaires that parents or professionals complete. The psychologist will select the most appropriate method based on the initial information gathered during consultation. For those that are interested there is a National Position Paper on Educational Psychology Assessment, jointly published by the Association of  Scottish Principal Educational Psychologists and the Scottish Division of Educational Psychology.

Intervention

Psychologists contribute to the identification of appropriate interventions within the same meetings and discussion in which assessment is undertaken. This most frequently takes the form of identifying strategies within school and home that the key people will deliver. These interventions are evidence informed and subject to evaluation  and review within further meetings. the impact of these strategies or interventions in themselves contributes to the assessment picture.

At times the psychologist may advise that a more direct form of intervention from the psychologist is required.  The psychologist would advise on the specific approach used and the rationale. The psychologist is required to be competent in any approach that they use and would happily describe their training background on the approach.

Assessment/Intervention Cycle

Assessment and Intervention are interlinked, and often described with a Plan-Do-Review cycle. This can be dynamic as needs are identified and supported and children make gains in learning. This means that the assessment is often captured within the Getting it Right for Every Child National Practice Model and the Child’s Plan. For most barriers to learning a cycle of assessment and intervention is required before identifying or diagnosing the cause or causal factors.

The Educational Psychologist will usually provide verbal reports within such meetings and contribute to the planning approach. Where parents have made a Parental Request for Assessment, the Psychologist will provide a written report, and they may do so on occasion when they feel their verbal reports to the Child Plan process need to be enhanced. The content of a written report and a verbal report will not be substantively different.

As we are a statutory service and our duty is to provide advice to parents and teachers, where we provide written reports we issue them on headed paper and to parents and the  school or ELC the child is educated in. Please see our privacy notice.

Request for an Educational Psychology Assessment

Parents, Carers with parental rights and young people can request an educational psychology assessment.  To make a request write (or other permanent form) to:

Nick Balchin

Principal Educational Psychologist

Falkirk Council Educational Psychology Service

Suite 1a, Falkirk Stadium, 4 Stadium Way,

Grangemouth, Falkirk FK2 9EE

educationalpsychologyservice@falkirk.gov.uk

The practice will broadly be the same as described above, although there is a requirement for us to provide a report within 10 weeks, excluding school holidays. This can be 16 weeks in some circumstances. We will write to you stating this when we agree to undertake the assessment.