Bani Kohli     &    Kirthika Rajarathnam

Hello! We are the Assistant Psychologists working at Saffron Valley Collegiate.

Bani works every Wednesday and Thursday, and Kirthika works every Thursday.

We work across the Saffron Valley Collegiate provisions to support young people with a range of needs, including neurodevelopmental differences and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs.

Our role includes completing initial psychological assessments and screening assessments to help identify a young person’s strengths and areas of need, and to better understand any barriers to learning, emotional wellbeing, behaviour, or engagement in school. Referrals are often made for screening around areas such as Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyscalculia, as well as wider emotional and behavioural needs.

Following assessment, we provide written reports and recommendations to help school staff, families, and other professionals better understand a young person’s presentation and the support they may need in school. This may include recommendations for classroom strategies, pastoral support, further assessment, or referrals to other services where appropriate.

We also offer direct therapeutic support, including 1:1 interventions, small group work, and consultation with staff and families, depending on the needs of the young person.

We work closely with teaching staff, the SENCO, parents/carers, the Taskforce team, and other professionals to ensure that support is joined up, practical, and tailored to each young person’s individual needs.