THE IMPACT OF NEW LEGISLATION ON SCHOOL-PSYCHOLOGY IN THE UNITED-KINGDOM, DENMARK AND THE NETHERLANDS

This paper has considered the ways in which new educational legislatio n has affected the practice of educational/school psychology in three member states of the European Union. In the United Kingdom the influen ce of the New Right's market philosophy towards education has pushed e ducational psychology services (EPS) to redefine their role. In Denmar k the traditional role of the school psychologist may be changing with the implementation of the 1994 Act of Folkeskolen which is set to fac ilitate the process towards inclusive education. In The Netherlands th ere is concern about the high numbers of children educated in special schools, and the role of the school psychologist has altered from indi vidual pupil assessments to working more closely with teachers. The pa per also discusses the broader contribution of educational/school psyc hologist to the education system in the European Union.