ISLE of WIGHT
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY SERVICE

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IWEPS CONSULTANTS



At IWEPS core is a family, co-incidentally (or perhaps not) reflective of the huge importance of the family and early, including pre-natal, experience for child development, personal, social and academic well-being. Development to the point of being able to come together to contribute to school provision through IWEPS from advanced, cutting edge specialisms in psychology, the background of IWEPS Consultants reflects the healthy development of children who, secure and confident in developing a positive sense of self within the family and early schooling, go on to build and extend their own worlds on that, seeking and extending their knowledge in increasingly advanced realms. Each IWEPS Consultant is a ‘pure’ psychologist – i.e. has knowledge and understanding rooted in three years of intense psychology study at undergraduate level (and for Stephanie and Stephen, prior to that, two years at ‘A’ level). The importance of this comprehensive ‘underpinning’ in psychology we feel is invaluable, providing in- depth understanding of normal and abnormal child and adult development, perception, memory, language, learning, behaviour etc., all of which are essential building blocks upon which to build later specialisms. IWEPS would only engage a psychologist whose knowledge was underpinned by a full three of four year undergraduate degree in psychology as we feel this cannot be compensated for by abbreviated coverage at later stages. IWEPS also only engages psychologists and permits work to be undertaken by psychologists who are fully qualified and experienced and have all required certification, registration and professional supervision.

IWEPS Consultant psychologists, having specialised at the highest levels, draw on a wealth of qualifications, experience and specialist knowledge in psychology, education, neuroscience and business and continue to maintain involvement in specialist areas through research, publications, presentations and joint-working nationally and internationally. This keeps IWEPS at the cutting edge of theory and practice, avoiding any possibility of narrow mindedness or parochialism that might otherwise threaten the effectiveness of a team serving a small Island. None of our Consultants ‘retired’ to the Isle of Wight! Rebecca was born and grew up here, all her family live and were educated here and she returned after working in North America to set up in private practice before being ‘head hunted’ into the Local Authority’s Educational Psychology Service where she rose to lead that service as Principal Educational Psychologist. Information below on each of IWEPS’ Consultant Psychologists demonstrates the level of knowledge and expertise available to schools and others through the IWEPS team, all of whom maintain regular contacts, interests and activities academically and otherwise far beyond the beautiful shores of the Isle of Wight.

IWEPS Consultants are fully qualified and experienced for all work undertaken, have the required registration with professional bodies and enhanced CRB certification to work with children in schools, their own homes and at IWEPS premises.



DR. REBECCA THOMPSON B.Sc. Hons. Psych., B.Ed.,
M.Ed., P.Res.Ed., Ph.D.

Principal Educational Psychologist





Dr. Rebecca Thompson qualified as an Educational Psychologist in 1981, is HPC registered and supported IW schools through the IW Council’s Educational Psychology Service for many years as Educational Psychologist, Senior Educational Psychologist, Acting Principal Educational Psychologist and Principal Educational Psychologist. In addition to a wealth of expertise in assessment, intervention and supporting schools in resolving difficulties and raising attainment, Rebecca has particular interests in Positive Psychology, Accelerated Learning and Self-Theories of Intelligence which were the focus of her Doctoral Research. Rebecca places huge store on the importance of parenting, positive childhood experiences and early intervention.




DR. W.W. THOMPSON M.A., M.Ed., Ph.D.,
A.F.B.Ps.S., C.Sci., C.Psychol.

Consultant Educational, Child & Adult Psychologist





Dr. Warren Thompson has more than 40 years experience in leading positions in the practice of Educational and Clinical Child Psychology and was headhunted from England to set up the first Educational Psychology Services in Eastern Canada, then again by Canadian Child Mental Health Services, followed by a position as Professor of Psychology at MSVU before his return to England to work in private practice when he was relied upon by the IW Education Department across many years to provide Educational Psychology support to Island schools. With extensive research and applied experience in Educational and Child Psychology, including assessment and provision for Autism Spectrum Disorders and specialisms in giftedness and dyslexia, Dr. Thompson has many international publications in the research and practice of Educational and Child Psychology.




DR. STEPHANIE THOMPSON B.Sc. Hons. Psych.,
M.Sc., Ph.D., C.Psychol.

Consultant Psychologist & Neuropsychologist
IWEPS Director




Dr. Stephanie Thompson achieved her Ph.D. at the prestigious Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, where her cutting edge research investigating child and adolescent socio-cognitive development involved her in assessment of hundreds of children. Stephanie has specialist interests in cognitive neuroscience and the assessment of autism and has published work with the renowned researcher and author in the field of autism, Professor Uta Frith. Stephanie is based in London and Brighton where she oversees IWEPS branches as well as contributing to services on the Isle of Wight and continuing contact with neuroscientific research with colleagues in the UK and abroad. In addition to specialisms in neuroscience and autism, Stephanie enjoys travelling, has written for travel publications as well as science journals and is an accomplished skier and qualified North American snowboard instructor.




DR. STEPHEN THOMPSON B.A. Hons. Psych.,
Ph.D., C. Psychol.

Consultant Psychologist
IWEPS Director




Dr. Stephen Thompson’s doctoral research ‘implications of inhibitory control, reinforcement and personality for compulsive behaviour’ took him to the U.S. and his work was presented at the 13th European Conference on Personality in Athens, Greece. Steve presented his latest research paper at the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences (ISSID London 2011) and is currently engaged in preparing three further research papers for publication. Steve splits his time between the Isle of Wight, Cornwall, Scotland and Buenos Aires, following both his dedication to psychology and surfing.



CAROLINE MARTIN Cert. Ed. (Autism),
University of Birmingham

Specialist Support Advisor (SSA)





Caroline has over 20 years experience working with children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and has significant specialist skills in providing support and training for a wide range of difficulties and diagnoses. Caroline supports pupils with and without formal diagnoses, schools and families challenged by neuro-developmental difficulties, for which she is well known and respected in Island schools. Caroline is currently engaged in direct pupil support, support groups and staff training for newly formed primary schools and academies.

“Without Caroline’s support my son would not be in school today” (Parent)

Caroline brings personal experience and empathy to her work, having supported and guided her own delightful daughter through the complexities of special education to her current, happy, independent life. Caroline provides direct pupil support and staff training for difficulties associated with Autistic Spectrum Disorder; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Severe, Moderate and Specific Learning Difficulties - Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Memory, Attention; Co-morbidity - with and without diagnosis.

Caroline is available to be commissioned by schools, local authorities and parents, from single days to longer periods to provide individual and group support in schools. Caroline can provide locum cover for specialist support staff during absence, while posts are advertised and in emergencies; reviews for Statements of SEN; evidence for applications for statutory assessment, additional support and changes in provision.

Reports from IWEPS’ Specialist Support Advisor are invaluable in supporting applications for:

  • Specialist Assessment and Diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder

  • Statutory Assessment

  • Statementing

  • Support, equipment, funding

  • Placement and Provision


Caroline also sets up and runs (also trains staff to run) Support Groups for pupils with identified needs such as Working Memory difficulties, Social Skills, Dyscalculia and a host of both bespoke and ‘off the shelf’ groups such as Circles of Friends, Playground Games, Thinking Skills, Parenting Groups etc.




SARAH BISHOP B.Sc. First Class Honours Psychology

Assistant Psychologist






Sarah achieved a First Class Honours degree in psychology while raising a family and has long offered her services as a committed volunteer with the Samaritans. Having reached the level of Deputy Director in charge of Schools’ Outreach with the Samaritans, Sarah now volunteers as a qualified bereavement Counsellor with the YMCA, a no-fee service, alongside her work with IWEPS. Sarah has applied for Clinical Psychology Doctoral Training so we may lose her in September 2012!