To ask the Minister of Education whether schools are subject to a limit on the number of children they can refer for educational psychology assessments each year.

The Education Authority (EA) Educational Psychology Service (EPS) plays a vital role in supporting schools at all stages of the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice. However, the service operates with finite resources, which limits the amount of time that can be allocated to schools, pupils, and parents. To ensure fair and equitable distribution, schools receive an allocated portion of EPS time based on a formula that considers 50% school enrolment and 50% Free School Meal Entitlement (FSME), ensuring that all schools have access to support.

While this system provides a structured approach, flexibility is built in to allow children with complex and significant needs to receive support beyond the standard school allocation. However, increasing demand on the service means that it is not possible to meet all requests. Therefore, it is essential to prioritise children with the highest level of need to ensure resources are directed where they are most urgently required.

To maximise impact within these constraints, the service has been working to develop creative and agile solutions to support schools and pupils more efficiently. This includes the introduction of Solution-Focused Hubs and Early Years Clinics as pilot initiatives. The outcomes of these pilots will help inform future service delivery and ensure the service remains responsive to the evolving needs of schools and pupils.