New £4 million fund to support up to 90 educational psychologists

UP to 90 educational psychology trainees will be supported by a new £4 million funding package over the next three years.

The package will help with training fees and living costs to encourage more specialists to train and work in Scotland.

The funding, agreed in partnership between local authorities and the Scottish Government, is expected to support up to 30 new trainees a year.

Together, they will provide more than £4 million during the initial three years of the initiative to recruit more trainees in a combined effort to improve access to support and close the attainment gap.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “Improving the education and life chances of our young people is an ambition we all share.

“This new partnership funding package between the Scottish Government and Cosla will help thousands of school pupils across Scotland.

“The work of educational psychologists significantly contributes to the equality, effectiveness and inclusiveness of our schools, and they play a vital role in raising attainment.

“By working closely with the school community, and other relevant professionals, educational psychologists help build capacity to meet the learning and mental health needs of pupils, and I am confident this significant investment will have long-lasting positive effects on many future generations of young people.”

Over the period from 2018/19 to 2020/21, the Scottish Government will contribute £2,845,500, of which nearly £1.5 million is from the Attainment Scotland Fund.

Local authorities will contribute £1,350,000.

Councillor Stephen McCabe, Cosla’s spokesman for children and young people, said: “Cosla leaders have been clear that educational psychologists play a vital role in supporting our children and young people alongside other professionals.

“I am pleased that we have been able to secure the introduction of financial support for trainee educational psychologists which will hopefully increase the number of trainees available.”