Gateshead Psychological Service comprises a team of
qualified and experienced Educational Psychologists who use their skills to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and young people across the age range 0-25 years.

They provide support and advice to children and young people with special educational needs who receive help in school but are not making expected progress, including:
• young children under 5 identified by professionals together with families as having special educational needs or disabilities
• school age children (5- 16, or up to 19 if they remain in education), who have been identified by schools and other providers, together with families
• young adults up to the age of 25 who have an identified special educational need and who need support to be able to make progress.

We are a targeted and specialist service for children with special educational needs and disabilities, those at risk of exclusion, and those whose life chances are impaired as a result of challenging circumstances. We work with SENCOs and other staff to help them support children effectively. We also work with schools to support pupils’ progress. The key areas of difficulties that we help to address are:
• learning
• communication and interaction with others
• social, mental and emotional health
• sensory impairments (such as visual impairment and hearing impairment)
• physical disabilities.

The Psychological service also undertakes assessments and provides statutory advice for those children and young people requiring an Education, Health and Care Plan, on behalf of Gateshead Council.