Psycho-pedagogical advice team (EAP): Between law and reality. Present and future of a profession that is being built

Abstract

The Educational Psychological Advisory Team (EAP), with over 40 years of experience, is positioned as the "bridge between the law and educational reality". This interdisciplinary team, formed by educational psychologists, physiotherapists, and social workers, operates in a constant duality, reconciling the administration's regulatory frameworks with the unique complexity of each school.

Its redefinition, outlined in the EAP Roadmap, aligns with the Decree 150/2017 on Inclusive Education, implying a fundamental paradigm shift: moving from the traditional deficit model (focused on diagnosing the student) to the inclusive model (focused on the context). The EAP thus becomes an agent of change whose main mission is the detection of barriers in the educational environment, and the construction of collaborative responses.

This advisory role seeks to transform schools by promoting changes and improvements from an inclusive perspective. The EAP must establish a relationship of trust with teaching teams and serve as a clear and accessible travelling companion for families, prioritizing equal opportunities and emotional well-being. The challenge is to guide schools to empower themselves, using language far removed from clinical diagnosis and center on improving the participation and learning of all students.