National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS)

1. Overview of NEPS service
2. Information for Parents
3. Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA)
4. Critical Incidents
5. NEPS Resources

6. NEPS Contacts
7. Wellbeing supports for students from the Ukraine
8. Wellbeing Supports – schools, parents and students
9. Wellbeing and School Self Evaluation
10. Counselling in Primary Schools-Pilot (CPS-P) 2023-2025

Overview of NEPS service

The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) is the psychological service of the Department of Education and provides educational psychological support to primary, post-primary and special schools in Ireland.

Each psychologist is assigned to a group of schools. The NEPS Model of Service includes a Casework Service for individual children and young people and a Support & Development Service for school staff.

The focus of the NEPS Casework Service is to use a consultative, problem-solving approach to promote better understanding of the child or young person’s strengths and needs, to suggest interventions that may be helpful to include in the Student Support Plan, and to assist schools to implement, monitor and review those interventions. This work is done in partnership with school staff, parents and the child or young person themselves.

The focus of the NEPS Support & Development Service is to help enhance school systems, to maximise a whole-school approach to creating school environments that are inclusive, flexible and responsive to the needs of all and to build school capability to provide evidence-informed prevention and early intervention support as part of the Continuum of Support framework. This work also includes supporting schools to respond to Critical Incidents.

Watch our videos about the NEPS service:

The focus is on empowering teachers to intervene effectively with pupils whose needs range from mild to severe and transient to enduring. NEPS encourages schools to implement a Continuum of Support with each school taking responsibility for providing universal and preventative approaches, as well as early assessment, educational planning and intervention for pupils with need. Teachers may consult their NEPS psychologist should they wish to at this stage in the process.

A child or young person who has not made reasonable progress following a school's best efforts in consultation with NEPS, may be prioritised for access to the NEPS casework service by the school. This system allows psychologists to give early attention to urgent cases and to help many more children indirectly than could be seen individually.

This process has been advised and communicated to schools in the following guidelines and resource materials:

Information for Primary Schools

Special Education Needs - A Continuum of Support

Special Educational Needs A Continuum of Support - Guidelines for teachers - Primary Schools

The focus of the guidelines is on the process schools and teachers may use to identify and cater for the special educational needs of individual pupils in proportion to the impact of those needs on their learning and socialisation.

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Special Educational Needs A Continuum of Support - Resource Pack for Teachers - Primary Schools

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Behavioural Emotional and Social Difficulties – A Continuum of Support

Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties, A Continuum of Support - Primary Schools

Guidelines for teachers

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Information for Post-primary Schools

Special Education Needs - A Continuum of Support

Special Educational Needs A Continuum of Support for Post Primary Schools - Guidelines for Teachers

The focus of the guidelines is on how post-primary schools may include all students in processes of learning and development

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Special Educational Needs A Continuum of Support for Post-Primary Schools Resource Pack for Teachers

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Student Support File

Student Support File Template Form

This word version of the Student Support File, allows schools to insert their own logo and use and adapt the format. It offers a flexible, generic ‘Support Plan’ and ‘Support Review Record’ that can be used at all levels of support.

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Student Support File Guidelines

The Student Support File allows the school to track the student’s pathway through the Continuum of Support – right from the start of the support process.

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Information for Parents

What to do if you think your child needs to be seen by a NEPS Psychologist

You need to begin by discussing your child's needs with the class teacher or school principal. Not every child needs to meet the psychologist in person. Each school makes referrals to their NEPS psychologist who helps the school to plan the work.

If your school arranges an assessment through NEPS there is no charge for this service.

You will find more information in our parents leaflet:

National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) Information for Parents

Information booklet for parents on the work of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS)

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Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA)

The Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA) is provided by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) to help in the delivery of a psychological service to all schools.

The scheme is not a substitute for a full educational psychological service of the sort provided by NEPS. It is an interim measure intended to supplement the NEPS service and meet current urgent needs for psychological assessment of children and young people.

All SCPA assessments must be sanctioned in advance by a NEPS psychologist or by the local NEPS Regional Director. Only psychologists listed in the current SCPA panel are eligible to carry out work under the SCPA scheme. The operation of the scheme is reviewed on an ongoing basis by NEPS.

When a SCPA assessment is satisfactorily completed and the report furnished to parents and school authorities, it should be completed by the engaged psychologist and the principal of the school, and forwarded for payment to:

SCPA - Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments Administrator

Address:

National Educational Psychological Service - NEPS, Department of Education, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 RC96

Email:

scpa@education.gov.ie

SCPA Guidelines and Relevant Documents

SCPA Panel 2024-2025

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Form 1 Consent Form 2024-2025

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Form 2 SCPA-Referral Form_2024-2025

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Form 3 Certificate of Completion of Assessment 2024-2025

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Guidelines for SCPA Psychologists 2024-2025

Revised October 2024

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Guidelines-for-Schools 2024-2025

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Critical Incidents

What to do in the event of a critical incident

NEPS provides assistance to all schools that experience critical incidents, including those that may not have an assigned NEPS psychologist.

A critical incident is a situation that overwhelms the normal coping capacity of the school. The types of critical incidents experienced by schools range from the death of a member of the school community through illness, suicide or accidental death to physical assaults or serious damage to school property.

How to request support for a critical incident

NEPS respond to critical incidents on request from affected schools. School authorities seeking support should contact their local NEPS office during working hours, Monday-Friday.

Responding to critical incidents