Educational psychologists are to hold a strike ballot over pay amid wider concerns about recruitment, retention and workload in the sector.
The Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP) has announced it is holding a formal ballot on industrial action as it remains in dispute with the Local Government Association.
The union said that a pay rise offer of £1,925 works out at between 2 and 5 per cent, depending on psychologists’ current pay, and on average is around a 3 per cent rise.
The AEP added: “This represents a real-terms cut in pay at a time when inflation is around 10 per cent.”
The union warned that educational psychology services are on the brink and that the increase in workload is evidenced by the rise in education, health and care plans (EHCPs) from just over 40,000 in 2016 to 73,072 by 2021.
The LGA has said it was not notified of the decision to move to a strike ballot.
The national executive committee of the AEP is now recommending that members vote for industrial action.
The decision to hold a formal ballot was taken after an indicative ballot in which 80 per cent said yes to taking industrial action. The formal ballot will take place in the coming weeks.
Educational psychologist recruitment ‘crisis’
The union said that the government’s recently published SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan highlights the importance of the work of educational psychologists, but warned that it cannot be properly implemented without addressing the recruitment and retention crisis in the sector.
AEP general secretary Cath Lowther said the union had only taken industrial action a few times in its history but “cannot go on seeing the erosion of pay and the erosion of services”.
She added: “Like other key workers, we have faced 13 years of significant real-terms pay cuts. The employers’ offer of 3 per cent at a time when inflation is around 10 per cent is another year where pay in real terms will be falling.
“With a combination of pay freezes and below-inflation increases from 2010 onwards, the real value of educational psychologists’ pay has been cut significantly.
“Poor pay and conditions have resulted in an unprecedented recruitment and retention crisis, as workloads spiral and our wellbeing and the quality of services suffers.”
The AEP is a trade union and professional body for educational psychologists in the UK. It is in dispute with the National Employers, represented by the Soulbury Committee, which is administered by the Local Government Association and negotiates pay on behalf of local authorities.
A spokesperson for the National Employers said: “The National Employers were unaware of the decision of the Association of Educational Psychologists to hold a strike ballot on pay for 2022 and is disappointed not to have been notified in advance.
“A final offer was made last November to the staff associations for all Soulbury officers (advisory staff in children’s services), including educational psychologists, which was an increase of £1,925 for 2022. This has been reaffirmed and we have urged the AEP and the staff associations to accept this offer. Pay for all other workforces in local government has been settled for last year.”
