Educational psychologists win national award

Two educational psychologists have received a national award for helping schools in Warwickshire and Staffordshire make "real progress" in supporting children's reading development.

Sarah Crawford and Jo Ward were given the Distinguished Contribution to Practice in Educational Psychology award by The British Psychological Society in January.

The pair have been recognised for their "outstanding commitment to ethically driven, evidence-based practice to literacy", Warwickshire County Council said.

Councillor Wayne Briggs said it reflected the dedication the pair had shown in delivering the Educational Psychology Assessment through Teaching Tool (Epatt).

The Epatt was an online platform designed to help schools support pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (Send) in improving their literacy skills, the authority said.

Developed in collaboration with Staffordshire County Council, the tool combines advice from educational psychologists with assessment and tracking of students' reading and spelling progress.

A council spokesperson added since the tool launched in September 2023, 95% of surveyed students reported improvements in their reading ability.

Janet Higgins, cabinet member for education and Send at the county council, said the tool was making a "real difference" and was helping children build confidence and skills.

"This national recognition shows just how valuable the tool is, and it's a testament to the dedication of our educational psychology teams," she added.

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