The article raises the question of the need to retrain teachers of preschool organizations for the new
position of a teacher-assistant. The reasons for the improper performance of official duties in working with
children with special educational needs are noted. The need to retrain applicants for the position of a teacherpsychologist
from educators-practitioners in a university is justified by the introduction of recent changes in
the qualification characteristics of the positions of teachers and persons equated to them. Attention is drawn
to the fact that most of the teachers of preschool institutions in Zhezkazgan are not ready to work with
children with special educational needs. For systematic work with teachers and children, this category needs
a trained teacher-psychologist. The emphasis is on the fact that in the context of the implementation of new
standards of preschool education, the readiness and ability of the teacher-assistant to work with children
should be the norm. The preliminary results of the study of the readiness of applicants to work with
preschoolers with special educational needs both during the course period of retraining at the university and
in the post-course period are presented. The role of the department in further joint work with preschool
institutions in the retraining of educational psychologists is revealed.