AQW 51072/22-27


Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford


Tabled Date: 07/09/2026
Answered On Date: 15/09/2026
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the number of children currently waiting for Local Impact Team (LIT) support for Social Behaviour and Emotional Wellbeing needs, compared with the waiting lists when Primary Behaviour Support was not part of the LIT model.


Answer:
The Education Authority has advised that information on waiting lists for Local IMPACT Teams (LITs) and Primary Behaviour Support and Provisions (PBSP) are set out in Tables 1 and 2 below:
Table 1
 
PBSP
Local IMPACT Teams
No. of Referrals/RFIs accepted for support
2019 -2020 
692
Sept 2025 - Aug 2026 -
 
3472 (2216 Primary) 
2020 – 2021
777
2021 – 2022
990
2022 – 2023
991
2023 – 2024
911
2024-2025
703
No. of calls received by Telephone Advice Service Helpline (TASH) and SEND Central
2019- 2020
307
SEND Central (September 25 - June 26) Social, Behavioural, Emotional and Well-being (SBEW) - 1128
960 - Primary SBEW
168 - Post Primary SBEW
2020 - 2021
409
2021-2022
978
2022- 2023
1269
2023- 2024
2037
Criteria for Referral
BSI – Behaviour Support Intervention – TASH advice must be received prior to referral
Referral criteria: 
Called TASH and allowed 6 weeks for the strategies to be embedded
2 copies of PLP/SBEW Plan with evaluated outcomes
Copy of Calm Plan and RRAP
Parental Consent
IPI – Intensive Pupil Intervention – TASH and BSI prior to referral
Referral Criteria:
2 copies of PLP/SBEW Plan with evaluated outcomes
PBS&P BSI Summary of Support Report
Supporting Psychology Service Consultation and/or letter of involvement
Copy of Calm Plan and/or RRAP
Parental consent
 
2 Personal Learning Plan’s (PLP) with review
No. of Children on a waiting list
Waiting list Range (reporting was bi-weekly variation was 17 – 217)
1162 (859 Primary) as of 8th September 2026
2023 - 2024
173
2024 - 2025
187
Table 2 - PBSP Referral types
REFERRAL TYPE
2019/2020
2020/2021
2021/2022
2022/2023
2023/2024
BSI Stage 5 (Statement) Intervention
1
34
90
91
74
BSI Targeted Advice
475
543
514
668
550
GBI Support for Specific Year Group
2
4
30
44
73
IPI Intensive Pupil Intervention (Outreach)
214
196
267
188
214
TOTALS
692
777
990
991
911
When comparing data, it is important to note that the programmes of support provided through PBSP and LITs are different. PBSP operated a "call first" approach, whereby schools were required to contact the TASH and wait a minimum of six weeks before they could be considered for a BSI (targeted advice). Direct pupils support was only available following engagement with TASH, a BSI and an Educational Psychology Service report.