The Optimus blog

The blog that inspires leaders in the UK education sector

The Optimus blog

The blog that inspires leaders in the UK education sector

Educational psychology

Gareth D Morewood

Col-lab-orating to connect neuroscience with education

The role of neuroscience in educational practice - particularly for children and young people with SEND - has been controversial, but one laboratory's research shows great promise. There have been many unsubstantiated claims at events regarding ‘breakthroughs’ in neuroscience, including one example...
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Gareth D Morewood

School-led SEND provision: educational psychology

Gareth D Morewood clarifies how a trainee educational psychologist can bring inclusion and positive change to SEND provision. In previous blogs we have discussed specific psychodynamic approaches to educational psychology (EP) and I have written about the role of our trainee educational...
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Gareth D Morewood

Dance and movement psychotherapy

Additional services for pupils with SEND can be an integral part of a school’s provision. Gareth D Morewood and trainee DMP therapist Ailsa Parsons explain the benefits of DMP. We have a number of additional therapeutic services as part of our support systems and I am always keen to have...
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Gareth D Morewood

Projective techniques: using psychology to support new SEND arrangements

How can schools benefit from taking a psychodynamic approach to provision under the SEND reforms and Children’s and Families Act? What is a psychodynamic approach? ‘Psychodynamics is the interplay of motivational forces that gives rise to the expression of mental processes, as in attitudes,...
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