As the name suggests, educational psychology involves the application of psychological theory and practice to the processes of learning and adjustment to learning situations. No two individuals learn in exactly the same way. Some young people will experience considerable difficulties applying themselves in certain learning context whereas others may be more resilient in their capacity to apply themselves independently even though they may experience distraction from what goes on around them. Educational psychology should be at the heart of the interface between content of what has to be learnt and the process by which it is absorbed.
Motivation, attention and concentration, language and communication skills, social skills and cognitive functioning all contribute to the process of effective learning. The assessment of individual cognitive abilities provides a snapshot of some of the important factors that need to be considered in setting reasonable learning and performance goals. An assessment of cognitive abilities can be a useful starting point in looking at a young person's learning potential but needs to be viewed alongside other information and perspectives on the child from teachers, parents and significant others.
The optional telephone discussion with the educational psychologist after the cognitive assessment results have been obtained provides an opportunity for considering other information from parents about their concerns and observations of their children. This may provide some useful insights and suggestions as well as a roadmap for other investigations and action that might be beneficial in planning support and guidance for the future.