Helping our children achieve their full potential
Hi, I’m Melanie,
My passion for, and drive to become an Educational Psychologist was a direct result of difficulties experienced by a member of my own family during their school years.
Fast forward twenty plus years and my passion for helping those with difficulties in the school context hasn’t diminished. I work a lot of pre-teens, adolescents and young adults with emotional and mental health challenges, as well as those with learning difficulties. This is alongside my passion for cerebral palsy.
Today, as a qualified and registered educational psychologist, my focus is on helping young people who are experiencing problems within a secondary educational setting with the aim of enhancing their learning experience.
My passions are:
psychological and educational assessments
SEN needs and transitions
executive functioning
emotional and mental health functioning
cerebral palsy
tribunal assessments advocating for the child
consulting and training in schools for staff development
Qualified & Registered Chartered Educational Psychologist
MASTER’S IN EDUCATION (EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY)
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS: HCPC REG PYL37058; BPS (CPSYCHOL) REG 494117; ACHIPPP; AEP; ACAMH
Working to support children, teachers and parents.
“BE SMART, HELP YOURSELF NOW.”
Finding the right educational support for your child
Let me start by saying that if you are at all uncertain about the exact nature of your child or young person’s learning challenges, you are not alone. However, be assured there is a great deal of support available.
The first steps to accessing the right educational support is to correctly identify the nature of the challenges being experienced by the learner.
Challenges may include social or emotional concerns or learning difficulties. My focus is on helping my client; young person. I provide additional support by further advising teachers, parents, therapists and other professionals. Today, perhaps more than ever, assessing skills and needs is a central issue in schools.
I have focused my practice on assessments, specifically cognitive, educational, emotional, executive functioning, access arrangements, statutory assessments, SEN needs, post-16 studies and preparing for adulthood assessments. My special interests are in learning disabilities, executive functions, acquired brain injury and cerebral palsy. I work on helping young people with their development in cognition, communication, social, emotional, mental health, self-help and learning skills as they make their way through their studies.
I aim to support young people on their way to finding direction and improving their performance and self-esteem at school. I work with clients in secondary school and the teenage years to adults, who are still studying or preparing to study.
“CHILDREN MUST BE TAUGHT HOW TO THINK, NOT WHAT TO THINK”
My Services
Psychoeducational/SEN/EHCNA Assessment
For anyone not achieving their full potential or for someone who is experiencing difficulties in the classroom, a psychoeducational assessment, also known as a special educational needs (SEN) or an education health and care needs assessment (EHCNA) will identify learning challenges in students of all ages, from young children to adults. It is a vital first step towards accessing the correct support for the learner.
Expert witness
I consult on special educational needs tribunal cases and provide reports and expert witness testimony for these legal matters.
There is no role for a ‘hired gun’ in the court. I stand as an advocate for your child and assess and write a report to promote and defend your child’s rights, needs and interests. I remain independent and objective, providing full, frank, impartial advice.
“Melanie’s reports are detailed and provide valuable advice and support to parents, teachers and students.”
“Melanie is held in the highest regard by her professional colleagues; her expertise is respected and sought by other psychologists and the general public. Invited onto numerous TV and radio presentations as an expert and author of a book, she clearly and eloquently advocates best psychological practice. ”
“EDUCATION IS NOT THE FILLING OF A PAIL, BUT THE LIGHTING OF A FIRE.”
How much will an assessment cost?
To know if my assessments are the right choice for you or your child, get in touch at letstalk@melaniehartgill.com
“THE MORE THAT YOU READ, THE MORE THINGS YOU WILL KNOW. THE MORE THAT YOU LEARN, THE MORE PLACES YOU’LL GO.”
Further Services
Access arrangements
Access arrangements are pre-exam arrangements made on behalf of a candidate with particular needs. Access arrangements allow candidates or learners to show what they know and do without changing the integrity or the demands of the assessment, for example, by using a reader or scribe.
Talks, Lectures and Workshops
My background in both the teaching and practice of psychology is broad and I provide talks, lectures and workshops that explore the subject. I would be happy to discuss how I can prepare a programme for you.
“CHILDHOOD IS NOT A RACE TO SEE HOW QUICKLY A CHILD CAN READ, WRITE AND COUNT.”
Let’s talk
You’re welcome to get in touch, client confidentiality is assured at all times.