NEPS 2021/2022
National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS)
Overview of NEPS service
NEPS psychologists work with both primary and post-primary schools and are concerned with learning, behaviour, social and emotional development. Each psychologist is assigned to a group of schools.
NEPS psychologists work in partnership with teachers, parents and children in identifying educational needs. They offer a range of services aimed at meeting these needs, for example, supporting individual students (through consultation and assessment), special projects and research.
Please see Video about the NEPS Services
Please see Video about the NEPS Services
Model of Service
In common with many other psychological services and best international practice, the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) has adopted a consultative model of service. The focus is on empowering teachers to intervene effectively with pupils whose needs range from mild to severe and transient to enduring.
Psychologists use a problem solving and solution focused consultative approach to maximise positive outcomes for these pupils. NEPS encourages schools to use a continuum based assessment and intervention process whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention for pupils with learning, emotional or behavioural difficulties.
Teachers may consult their NEPS psychologist should they need to at this stage in the process. Only in the event of a failure to make reasonable progress, in spite of the school's best efforts in consultation with NEPS, will the psychologist become involved with an individual child for intensive intervention.
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.
Download
Special Educational Needs A Continuum of Support - Resource Pack for Teachers - Primary Schools
DownloadBehavioural Emotional and Social Difficulties – A Continuum of Support

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