AQW 51072/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education
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.
Asked by Nick Mathison MLA on 7 September 2026
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 7 September 2026
- Answer due by
- 22 September 2026
- Answered
- 15 September 20268 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Education
- Priority question
- No
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.