AQW 32585/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 02/10/2025
Answered On Date: 23/10/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the reason why educational psychologists will no longer recommend that a child with special educational needs is referred for a statutory assessment, following an initial assessment.

Answer:

The role of Educational Psychologists (EPs) within the statutory assessment process has been amended following a review as part of the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Transformation Programme.

The Education Authority (EA) has advised the decision to initiate statutory assessment lies with the Statutory Assessment and Review Service (SARS), not with individual professionals.

Under the SEND framework, EPs are one of several professionals who may contribute evidence to the statutory assessment process.

Education Psychologists advice and consultation outputs can be used by schools, parents, and other professionals to support an application for Statutory Assessment.

SARS is responsible for reviewing all submitted evidence independently and determining whether the legal test for initiating a statutory assessment has been met.

For pre-school children referred through Health and Social Care Trust (HSCT) pathways, especially those with significant and complex needs, Educational Psychologists (EPs) remain empowered to progress statutory assessments directly to ensure that children who require the highest level of support continue to benefit from the expertise and advocacy of EPs.