The government must fund more than a thousand extra educational psychologists in mainstream schools as part of its reforms for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), a new report has warned.
Research by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) recommended that schools should boost the current number of specialists by 40 per cent – an increase of 1,400. This would cost £140 million, which the group says could be funded by existing government grants.
Some areas of the country have just one educational psychologist for every 480 pupils, its report finds, which the worst-affected have just one for every 9,400.
It adds that the extra psychologists would be needed to bring the 96 local authorities that do not have enough up to the right level.
Educational psychologists work with teachers, parents and other professionals to address barriers pupils face to learning, or behavioural barriers, and are part of making sure children facing difficulties get the right support to succeed emotionally and academically.
James Zuccollo, director for school workforce at EPI, said the report “highlights a stark reality,” adding: “We cannot deliver the government’s goal of inclusive mainstream education while the educational psychologist workforce remains critically under-resourced.”
The government set out a raft of reforms to the SEND system in February, saying it would become more inclusive for those with additional needs.
EPI’s research found official data on educational psychologists undercounts by about a third – but said the estimated 1,300 full-time staff missed off are not evenly distributed where there are gaps.
Previous surveys from the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Association of Educational Psychologists have also warned that if about 10 per cent of the workforce leaves each year – about 350 staff – the workforce must also replace them first before it can grow.
Despite this, in 2025/26, only around 200 government-funded training places were available.
As part of the SEND reforms, the Government has announced £1.8 billion to create a bank of SEND specialists and experts in every area.
Mr Zuccollo said: “The £1.8 billion Experts at Hand programme provides a welcome framework, but its sufficiency is entirely dependent on a stable EP pipeline.
“Given the length of specialist training required, the Government’s three-year delivery timeline is at risk without additional investment to reach adequate staffing levels.
“Continuing to fund training for only 200 EPs each year will not be enough to adequately support children’s needs.
“A relatively modest investment of around £140 million would allow EPs to work more effectively to improve outcomes and break the cycle of burnout and attrition that currently threatens the service.”
A Department for Education Spokesperson said: “Our once-in-a-generation reforms are overhauling a broken, one-size-fits-all SEND system resetting the way we view inclusion to create an education system fit for every child no matter their needs or background. They are backed by £4 billion to ensure every child gets the right support, in their local school, at the earliest possible stage, without having to fight for it.
“We’re investing £26 million to train hundreds of new Educational Psychologists over the next few years - meaning more specialists working directly with schools to spot issues before they escalate, train staff, and run group exercises for pupils with autism, ADHD and other needs.
“This is strengthened further by our £1.8billion investment to open up access to advice, guidance and support from specialists like speech and language therapists and educational psychologists, so help is faster, earlier and easier to get.”
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