Educational Psychologists for Material Change believe that inequality is produced and reproduced by the system in which we all live. We believe that to end inequality, material change is needed at a systemic level to redistribute wealth and power more equitably across society. This can be done through activism, at both the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary level. But we also think that consciousness and awareness raising plays an important role too. This is why we have decided to hold our first Community Learning Day, on the theme of Inequality and Psychology, on the 9 of January 2026. This will be a virtual event We are interested in hearing from educational psychologists and others in the fields of psychology and education who would like to present on this topic. We are particularly interested in centring the voices of those who have direct, lived experience of inequality in any and all of its forms. If you are interested please send us a title and brief outline of the talk you propose to deliver to epsformaterialchange@gmail.com Whilst we are in the early planning stages of this event, any fundraising done will be based on the following principles: - The event will be free to those who cannot afford to pay. - Those who can afford to pay may be asked to donate. - Any money raised will go towards a cause that helps to challenge inequality. Thanks The EPMC Steering Group

We’re holding our first Community Learning Day on the theme of Psychology and Inequality - 9th Jan 2026!

Please share widely!

We’re currently looking for speakers!

We’d particularly like to hear from those who have lived experience in relation to inequality and psychology

#edusky
#edpsychs

There seems to have been a shift over the last 5-10 years to much more external control over behaviour in secondary, based on 'zero tolerance' type approaches pushed by high profile educators. So we have a split between a self-regulation/agency focus in primary and a control focus in secondary. 2/3

I had such a fantastic day yesterday at @edspy.bsky.social Festival of Educational Psychology. So many inspiring speakers, challenging us to turn towards places where educational psychology can and should be making a difference. Thank you @edpsydan.bsky.social for bringing our community together.

new article published open access in Reading Research Quarterly 💫

Follow the word gap: the social life of a deficit concept
doi.org/10.1002/rrq....

i trace how deficit ideologies associated with the 'word gap' get reproduced - and rejected - in teacher education and schools.

🌟150 people registered so far...!

...This is just amazing and we can't wait for the buzz on the day.

Festival programme and tickets are here: festival.edpsy.org.uk

#epfest2025 #edpsychs

..some nights my mum's like, I genuinely cannot do anything with for you guys - I've got nothing for you older ones. I can only do pasta & sauce for the little ones' & [l'm] like, That's fine, mum. I will go and try & get myself a tenner from someone” - Girl 17

"Sometimes we struggle to pay the bills. Right now it's OK...before mum would cry every time she was going to pay the bills." - Boy, 16

'Sometimes when I need to take a bath or have a shower, the water doesn't really work sometimes... so sometimes when [children] don't have enough water to take a shower, they always just have to go to school not clean and they didn't shower." - Girl, 10

"We went to a temporary house so [the housing association] can fix our house, but when we came back we could still smell the mould and we could see some. I don't like the fact that they lied to us, and they didn't unveil the truth." - Girl, 11

Working in schools & communities you can’t fail to notice the massive impacts of child poverty. This report has rightly given children a chance to speak about their experiences, I hope it leads to change.

assets.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/wpuploads/20...

"The two child limit pulls 109 kids into poverty every single day, so unless that policy goes child poverty is going to be higher at the end of this parliament than at the start"

Sara Ogilvie from the Child Poverty Action Group #GMB

Early Bird discount is ending on Thursday - which can only mean one thing...

....our Programme is on its way! That's obvs exciting - but if you want to benefit from 10% your ticket price, you know what to do...!

#edpsychs #epfest2025

📢🎟️Our Early Bird Festival discount ends this Thursday!

When you use code 'EARLYBIRD10' you can still benefit from 10% off all our tickets...but be quick, this ends at midday Thursday 10th July.

Get your tickets here: festival.edpsy.org.uk

#edpsychs

🌟💥🎪 Announcing our Festival headliners

We're...proper...excited!

Keri Opai, Dr Cora Sargeant and Bernard Coard.

Join us on 19th September for inspiration, challenge and hope.

More about our headliners: edpsy.org.uk/blog/2025/an...

#epfest2025 #edpsychs

Gaza: Palestinians seeking food continue to be killed by Israeli military Desperate, hungry people in Gaza continue to face the inhumane choice of either starving to death or risk being killed while trying to get food.

Every. Single. Day. News reports of multiple Palestinians shot dead at food "aid" distribution points. Not only is food weaponised, civilians aren't even safe seeking out what little food they're allowed.

Our psychological bodies say *nothing*. Shameful

www.ohchr.org/en/press-bri...

Reducing exclusions working group - edpsy.org.uk Aims, vision and purpose We are hoping to reach out to any EPs, TEPs or Assistant EPs who would be...

For anyone working in educational psychology and interested in reducing exclusions, see here: edpsy.org.uk/interest-gro...
#educationalpsychology #EPs

📢🎪 Announcing our festival theme!

'Lasting change through collective action'

Our festival celebrates the power of people coming together. Community psychology teaches us that real change begins when communities lift each other up.

Get your ticket now: festival.edpsy.org.uk

#edpsychs

📌

When you have an evening reception at 7 but have to crawl the cathedral steps in penance for getting Thomas Beckett killed at 3

When I worked in HE, I found some colleagues were somewhere between puzzled and outraged when first year students wanted to see model essays, to have a sense of what “good enough to pass” looked like
- which again speaks to the disconnect between positions I think

I think also there’s a connection between the experience of how the national curriculum / A-level is assessed in a highly prescriptive way and arriving into university where you are asked to have A Point of View. For most that is a total shift in the purpose and expectation of assessment

I think this is such a major driver of AI use in university assessments. And also just a real… disconnection between why we think students are here (to learn about history!) and why students think they are here (to get good grades, to get a job)

Heeeeere we go! Delighted to be part of the organising team this year, it’s going to be 🔥

The Family Fund Cost of Caring report was published a couple of days ago. It is relevant to any SEND professional, making it clear why we must advocate for an adequately funded system of income support. www.familyfund.org.uk/impact/resea...

Diabolus Ex Machina This Is Not An Essay

This is a hell of a thing to read.

🌟edpsy hosts Dr Mary Stanley-Duke

Join Mary next Tuesday to dive in to mediating learning - the psychology, its importance and how to do it.

You'll leave with practical ideas to use to develop a child's learning skills.

Info and booking here: edpsy.org.uk/event/edpsy-...

#edpsychs

Are you an EP/TEP who is passionate about reducing exclusions? We are forming an interest group to share best practice, network and access CPD. We would love for you to join us! The first meeting will be September 9th at 3pm. *Also looking for presenters to share research. DMs open!

One in four pupils in England ‘disengage’ when they move to secondary, report finds New study found a drop in enjoyment, trust and feelings of safety after year 7 and a largely positive primary experience

This is so frustrating for so many reasons... but especially absolute, barefaced cheek of adults asking children if they like school, being told "no", and concluding that actually school is fine, it's the kids who are disengaged (and who need special attention)

…bright eyes, every now and then I fall apart

We must stay true to our values. If a generally free society loses its moral courage, then what is left. Thank you for continuing to remind us @noushaep.bsky.social

“We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” #EdPsychs