The Department for Education has pledged £26 million to recruit and train more educational psychologists, as latest research reveals their time is often dominated by administration linked to the growing workload in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The funding will support at least 200 trainees a year in 2026 and 2027, as part of what ministers describe as a long-term commitment to grow the educational psychology (EP) workforce to enable them to do more direct work with children and schools.
The investment builds on £31mn committed since 2023, which the DfE expects to deliver 600 new EPs by the end of this parliament.
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The announcement comes as DfE research shows local authority professionals spend between 56 and 68 hours on average developing and issuing each new education, health and care plan (EHCP), for children with the highest SEND needs.
EPs and principal EPs account for the highest share, averaging 17.4 hours per plan. Some report spending up to 25 hours on the initial application stage alone.
The figures underline ongoing EP sector concerns over significant shortfalls both in the workforce and with funding, amid spiraling SEND pressures.
Trainees will undertake a three-year doctorate, including a two-year placement, with new cohorts beginning in September 2026 and 2027.
Daniel, an educational psychologist, said: “The role of an educational psychologist is to work with schools, families and community partners to create sustainable change.
“Unfortunately, I find much of my time is taken by crisis-driven statutory processes. What would help is investment in capacity, to ensure that we have protected time to do the preventive and systemic work we know can improve outcomes for children.
“This is the work I believe educational psychologists are trained for and want to do.”
Minister for school standards Georgia Gould said the money, announced ahead of the forthcoming Schools White Paper, will help ensure “specialists spend less time stuck behind a desk and more time giving the direct support to children to transform their education”.
Gould added: “That’s why we’re investing £26 million to train hundreds of new educational psychologists over the next few years – backing our reforms with more people, with the right skills, to enable children with SEND to thrive in education.
“This cash boost will mean more opportunity to work with schools on the ground – spotting issues before they escalate, training staff to make sure every pupil in their classroom can thrive and running group exercises that help improve learning for pupils with autism, ADHD and other needs.
“This builds on the huge amount of work already underway to put inclusion at the heart of every school, including a landmark £200 million to train every teacher on SEND, so that no child is left behind.”
Sector body the Association of Educational Psychologists welcomed the DfE’s recognition of the “unique expertise of the EP workforce and commitment to strengthening capacity” but argued that more needs to be done.
General Secretary Donna Wiggett said that while 200 EPs are being trained each year, “workforce shortages remain” and “high numbers of EPs are leaving their roles”.
She added: “We would welcome continued discussions with the DfE about how this investment can be supported by sustainable workforce arrangements, including terms and conditions and contract models that support recruitment and retention.
“We believe a long-term workforce plan is a key part of any successful reform.
“We hope to see more detail of how this investment can be delivered to best support the outcomes for children and young people in forthcoming policy announcements.”
Source: CYPNOW
