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The supply of educational psychologists could “collapse” after a funding blunder by local government chiefs, a charity claims.

The British Psychological Society says there is funding for only 79 of the 150 educational psychology training places on the next course from September and is calling on the government to underwrite the shortfall.

It claims the Local Government Association mistakenly distributed the money it receives from the government to fund the courses to district councils, which have no responsibility for education. Only enough has been recovered to fund 79 places, the society says.

Society president Prof Pam Maras said: “Offers for funded training places are due to be made to candidates next week but if the money is not available then sufficient numbers of professionals will not be able to begin their training.

“This would mean there was not enough trained staff coming through the system to meet the needs of vulnerable children and young people. That is why we hope that some appropriate ‘joined-up’ response from the relevant government departments to this serious situation can quickly be identified.”

Les Lawrence, chair of the LGA’s children and young people board, said: “The Local Government Association has worked hard with partners and professionals to ensure as much money as possible is available for the training of educational psychologists next year.”