This Winter Edition highlights a range of developments—from whole-authority strategic programmes and national conference contributions to community-based psychology offers and creative resources for families.
Together, they reflect the evolving landscape of psychological support across Wales and the dedication of EPs in strengthening inclusive systems for children, young people and families.
1. Monmouthshire Autism in Schools and Settings Programme
Monmouthshire was the first local authority in Wales to partner with the Autism Education Trust/National Autistic Society and has led the translation of all training materials, including practical resource packs, into Welsh. They have ensured that each element of the programme reflects Welsh legislation and local context. A national partner network has now been established to share good practice among the growing number of Welsh authorities adopting the programme.
The leadership team—which includes three Educational Psychologists—has developed the programme over several years. The training team, comprising all EPs in Monmouthshire, has delivered the Making Sense of Autism module to more than 1,000 participants, including teachers, teaching assistants, early years practitioners, receptionists, caretakers, social workers, LA officers, therapists, Families First and Flying Start colleagues.Feedback has been extremely positive, and the second module, Good Autism Practice, is now being rolled out.
A network of Autism Champions, school and setting-based staff supported by an EP and a lead teacher from Monmouthshire’s specialist resource bases, continues to strengthen inclusive practice. Emerging evidence suggests calmer classrooms, more enabling learning environments, and a cultural shift towards shared responsibility for supporting autistic pupils, with staff reporting more inclusive language and a celebration of neurodiversity.
2. Video Interaction Guidance (VIG) Conference
Educational Psychologists and psychology-led practitioners from Parents Plus and Parents First (Cardiff Parenting & Play) presented at the AVIG National Conference held in Cardiff in October 2025.
Parents First shared their developing work on amplifying the Child’s Voice in VIG, exploring informed consent, power dynamics, and how to support children in deciding whether to participate. Case studies highlighted how sensitive scaffolding can empower children and young people to make meaningful choices about involvement.
Parents Plus delivered a workshop focused on using VIG within a multi-agency approach for parents and babies in the First 1001 Days, sharing antenatal and early postnatal case studies illustrating the impact of early relational support.
3. Tonnau Talks & Tonnau Tyfu (Neath Port Talbot)
Neath Port Talbot’s Tonnau (waves) Team EPS continues to extend its community-centred offer through Tonnau Talks, a fortnightly online podcast designed to provide parents and carers with practical, accessible psychology. Each session explores an aspect of children’s social and emotional development, with live Q&A opportunities and recordings available via the Tonnau Talks YouTube channel.
Building on this success, the team has launched Tonnau Tyfu (Tyfu used to represent growing together), a series responding directly to real-life questions submitted by families. Recent episodes have focused on selective mutism, resilience, and managing meltdowns, offering parents and carers grounded, strengths-based strategies.
Tonnau Talks reflects the growing commitment within Welsh EP services to widen access to high-quality psychological support through early, preventative engagement.
4. Big Book of Feelings
Educational Psychologists from Cardiff Parenting & Play have authored The Big Book of Feelings as part of Welsh Government’s ‘Parenting. Give it Time‘ programme. The resource helps parents and children understand big emotions—seeing them, naming them, and recognising that all feelings are ok.
Resources are freely available online:
- The Big Book of Feelings (older children)
- The Little Book of Feelings (younger children)
5. Trauma Informed Practice Skills and Strategies (TIPSS) in Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil EPS has spent the past year piloting the TIPSS approach, developed by Traumatic Stress Wales with children, young people and practitioners. TIPSS supports both ‘trauma-skilled’ and ‘trauma-enhanced’ levels of practice within the Trauma Informed Wales Framework.
Training includes:
- Skilled Level – whole-school training (one day)
- Enhanced Level – for ELSAs, TiS and Thrive practitioners, Wellbeing Leads and others (one day)
Training has been delivered to a 3–16 school, Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) settings, a secondary school, The Tuition Service and Community Focused Schools colleagues, with delivery to the 3–19 special school planned. Staff feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, noting improved understanding and more trauma-informed responses.
Each school now has Trauma Informed Champions who attend termly Good Practice Forums led by the EPS and the Children Looked After Service. Further development continues through research and PATHs work.
For more information contact Natalie O’Neill.
6. Ready, Steady School – A Growing Inclusive Transition Project (Neath Port Talbot)
2025 saw the expansion of the Ready, Steady School pilot, Neath Port Talbot’s needs-led, collaborative transition project supporting schools to feel confident, prepared and relationally attuned when welcoming all children into nursery.
The project has been inspired by early years transition work developed by Educational Psychologist Dr Rachel Hiles, whose research and practice have helped inform its reflective, co-produced and equity-driven approach.
Partnerships have included four primary schools, with three more joining in 2026. All schools follow a six-step implementation process while retaining flexibility to respond to local needs. This has supported exploration of inclusive environments, co-regulation, developmental needs and adaptive classroom design.
Activities have included group consultations, classroom visits, modelling of strategies, environmental reflection and co-constructed plans supporting early development, communication and emotional regulation.
Early insights show:
- improved shared understanding of children’s strengths and emerging needs
- increased confidence in adapting environments and routines
- stronger alignment between pre-school and school systems
- strengthened relationships with families
- a growing “community of ideas” rooted in creativity and relational practice
As we move thorugh 2026, the team will continue refining the project, deepening its community-psychology foundations and expanding opportunities for joint learning, ensuring warm, inclusive and meaningful transitions for children and families across Neath Port Talbot.
7. Carmarthenshire Educational Psychology Service
Carmarthenshire EPS continues to develop a strong programme of trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming and relational practice across the county.
The service is preparing to host a Trauma Conference on 13 March 2026, in collaboration with TISC Wales.
A significant area of development this year has been neurodiversity practice. The team is trialling the Portsmouth Profiling Tool to support targeted interventions and build workforce capacity. While not used for diagnosis, families may choose to share profiles with health colleagues. The team has also launched a Neurodiversity Community of Practice, a three-day CPD offer open to school and LA colleagues. This work is led by Adele Christopher and Rosalyn Clement, with a focus on supporting neurodivergent young people alongside neurodivergent colleagues across the system.
The service is also strengthening work around Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA). Secondary schools are being supported to complete training, develop EBSA Champions, and join regular EBSA forums. This development is led by Helen S. Davies and Buddug Rees.
For further information contact Carmarthenshire EP Service.
