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About Emma
Emma obtained her first class undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Reading before going on to qualify as a primary school teacher at the Institute of Education. After four years of teaching in London, Emma trained as an Educational and Child Psychologist on the doctoral programme at University College London. Her doctoral thesis focused on the voices and experiences of young people with social, emotional and mental health needs and was published in Educational Psychology in Practice in 2017*.
Emma worked as an Educational and Child Psychologist for an inner-London local authority for seven years. This has fuelled her passion for ensuring that the child is at the centre of any of her work. She led on pupil voice in her previous service and is driven to achieve real change that is meaningful for the young people with whom she works. Emma was also part of a team of Psychologists supporting Looked After Children in her role with the Virtual School.
Emma currently undertakes locum EP work for various Local Authority services and has contracts with a number of schools, as well as taking direct parent referrals. She has extensive knowledge of Education, Health and Care planning processes and the SEND code of practice.
Emma is trained in use of the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule 2) and the 3di (Developmental, Dimensional and Diagnostic interview for Autism). She works closely with colleagues in other professions, including Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Clinical Psychologists.
Emma is the assessing psychologist for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at a top London university. She also works to support the education of Looked After Children for a group of residential care homes in Hertfordshire and Essex. Emma also has specialist training in paediatric sleep disorders.
Emma is a mother of two and she volunteers as the Chairperson of her local Preschool Committee.
* Emma L Sheffield & Gavin Morgan (2017) The perceptions and experiences of young people with a BESD/SEMH classification, Educational Psychology in Practice, 33:1, 50-64, DOI: 10.1080/02667363.2016.1225192
"Thank you Emma Sheffield for making my daughter feel safe, valued and not silly! If you need to see an Educational Psychologist, I cannot recommend Emma highly enough."
Parent of an 8 year old child with specific learning difficulties
“Emma has been wonderful. She is extremely professional. She has a calm, gentle and nurturing manner. Thank you Emma.”
Online parent feedback, collected anonymously
“I just want to say how very much I have enjoyed working with you. Your professionalism, efficiency and sensitivity are very valued qualities and sadly not everyone has them. You’ve really helped and supported me over many years with so many children...”
SENCo
I have recently had the lovely Emma carry out an assessment on my daughter. After feeling like I was lost and unsure what help I could access, Emma came to my daughter’s school and was re-assuring to not only me but my daughter as well (something that I was concerned about as she can be on the timid side). After finally being diagnosed with dyslexia, Emma has recommended some fantastic measures that can be put in place by not only the school but also us at home, I was so scared to have a report carried out as I thought she may be “labelled” but in doing so it has opened up a world of opportunities to us and help that can be accessed. It’s clear to see that Emma really does take such care with the children and has such a passion for the job! If only she knew how life changing these reports were for the families involved. Would not hesitate to recommend. Thank you once again!
Parent of primary aged pupil
"I just spoke to X's school SENCO and he said your report was the best EP report he’d ever seen. He said it was brilliant and he absolutely agreed with everything in it. Thanks again for your support."