Committee publication · Correspondence · 22 July 2025
Letter from Association of Educational Psychologists on Funding for training of educational psychologists, dated 07.07.25
From: Education Committee
Inquiry: Solving the SEND Crisis
Summary
The Association of Educational Psychologists writes to the Education Committee Chair seeking urgent clarification on government funding for EP training beyond 2025. The AEP states the government committed £21m to train 400 EPs through 2026, but recent DfE discussions reveal no agreed funding exists beyond the September 2025 intake, contradicting ministerial statements about supporting specialist pathways.
Key findings
- Government committed £21m to fund 204 EP training places annually in 2024, 2025, and 2026, but funding for 2026 intake now appears unconfirmed
- DfE officials have stated there is no agreed funding for EP training beyond the 2025 intake, despite earlier understanding that 2026 places were secured
- Current shortage of educational psychologists is insufficient to meet demand from children with SEND; adequate training numbers are fundamental to profession sustainability
- Ministerial statements to committee on 1 July reaffirmed commitment to investment, but DfE discussions contradict this public position
- AEP requests committee intervention via ministerial letter or parliamentary question to clarify government's intentions for future EP training funding
Tone
CriticalTopics
education-fundingspecial-educational-needsworkforce-developmentprofessional-training
Key actors
Helen Hayes MP, Association of Educational Psychologists, David Collingwood, Department for Education, Education Select Committee
Notable line
“… there is no agreed funding to train educational psychologists beyond the 2025 intake of trainees. This means there is no guarantee of any educational psychologist training places being funded beyond September”
Key Quotes
“… smoothly. From our most recent discussions with oƯicials from the Department we understand that there is no agreed funding to train educational psychologists beyond the 2025 intake of trainees.”
“… there are simply not enough educational psychologists to deliver the support required by children and young people, and ensuring suƯicient numbers are trained is fundamental to securing the future of the profession.”
“… it would seem to contradict comments made by the Minister in her recent evidence to the committee about the need to support more pathways into specialist roles, including educational psychologists.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗