Continuing professional development is being offered through the programme of Master Classes at the lowest possible cost. I would like to personally thank the Division Committee as well as the many members and staff who have supported the work of the Division over the past year. Barbara Douglas, Chair
Division of Educational and Child Psychology The committee has met six times, including a one-and-a-half day Wider Issues meeting in September. This has been a significant year for educational psychology with the introduction of statutory regulation in July and the changing role of the Society as a consequence. The academic year has seen the registration and employment of the first cohort of educational psychologists (EPs) following the introduction of the three-year doctoral training route. It is good to report that the Health Professionals Council (HPC) has taken the advice of the Society and set its entry-level qualification for psychologists at the same level as the Society's current doctoral level. Our thanks go to those within the Society and the Divisions who have worked hard in helping the HPC to come to this decision. A great deal of committee time has been taken up with debate around these issues together with continuing serious concerns in relation to future funding for educational psychology training. Members of the committee were delighted to welcome in September the first newly qualified EP representative for three years and a year-2 trainee representative. Committee business has been wide and varied. Some examples are: ■ attendance at Society Board and Council meetings, including the informal round table meeting with other Division chairs; ■ attendance at Children’s Workforce Development Council meetings to consider issues around EP training; ■ set up of new Working Group on Supervision for EPs at all levels, with two subgroups with wide representation; ■ regular review and updating of our strategic plan in line with the Society strategic plan and regular updating of our website; ■ completion and publication of the joint report (DECP, Association of EPs, National Association of Principal EPs ) on evaluation of EP services in the light of outcomes for children; ■ completion of paper on the direction and future role of DECP; ■ DECP position paper on inclusive education to sit alongside the Society social inclusion position paper; ■ new protocols for election of committee Chair Elect, Chair, officers, newly qualified EP and Year 2 trainee; ■ joint events with other Divisions and Groups; ■ negotiations with the newly formed DECP Northern Ireland to provide a focus and forum for EPs in Northern Ireland; ■ arrangements for the annual DECP conference and professional training event in January 2010 – ‘Building the Evidence’ – and the first DECP one day event for EP trainees, also in January. A N N U A L R E V I E W 2009
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