My commitment is to help children and parents to achieve their full potential and to bring together parents and teachers with the aim of improving the immediate environment for the child/young person.
Usually parents/teachers are stuck with their own problem solving analysis on the issues concerning them for a particular child/young person. That is the point that they call an Educational Psychologist to help move them on. Another common question is ‘Is my child reaching his/her potential?’ or ‘I need to know what sort of school ethos my child will benefit from?’
I offer a friendly and caring approach in which to work one to one with a youngster and I am very adaptable to the particular individual needs. I can see a child at their school, in their own home, in my home or another mutually agreed location. The more unusual locations include assessments in hotel lobbies, a stable yard, and a hammock in my garden!
I intrude as lightly as possible on busy teachers working days. I try to use record keeping that is already taking place within that school, rather than impose my own form, when collecting background evidence. I try to discuss the child at a time that suits the teacher on the day and provide pointers to work from in my report. If I carry out a classroom observation, the aim is to see what it is like for the youngster to be part of this learning group, rather than to observe the teaching skills standard!
I write a comprehensive report within two weeks of seeing the youngster, that has practical action points to work from at the outset and then use as a school based review later on.