Children and young people across NI to get earlier, more tailored SEND support

As part of the Department of Education’s wider SEN Reform Agenda, EA has created a network of SEND Local IMPACT Teams which support children and young people at the first two stages of the SEND Code of Practice – the stages before a formal Statement of Special Educational Needs may be required.

The new model will allow each Team to provide tailored support to pupils and their schools regardless of the type of needs presenting, at the earliest possible point in their educational journey. This model, in turn, will help improve educational outcomes of our children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. 

Key details of the SEND Local IMPACT Team initiative include: 

• A single access point to Education Authority advice and support, delivered through a network of 28 SEND Local IMPACT teams. This brings together eight previously separate SEND pupil support services into a single coordinated and multi-specialism service which wraps around the needs of the child. Each Team includes specialists in areas such as Cognition and Learning, Language and Communication and Social, Behavioural, Emotional and Well Being Needs.
   
• Each local Team will be able to build strong, supportive relationships with schools across their catchment area and develop an in-depth knowledge of the local issues faced.
   
• Schools can now submit a digital ‘Request for Involvement’ from their Local IMPACT Team, without the need for an Educational Psychology assessment to be completed first, regardless of the type of need presenting. This will result in children receiving support in a more timely way and also ensures that we use the finite Educational Psychology resource in a way that adds most value.
   
• A single phone number for schools to access advice and guidance, alongside a single online query/support form (all managed and quality assured centrally).

EA’s Chief Transformation Officer, Tomas Adell, said:

 “This is an important step forward in the transformation of SEND services in NI. It is widely agreed that early intervention is essential to providing the best possible outcomes for children and young people who have additional needs and challenges. 

“The Local IMPACT Team initiative, which will grow and develop further, will help make early intervention a daily reality and ensure support for many more children at the beginning of their school journeys. It will also help address previously unmet need at a much earlier stage.

“There is, of course, much more to be done to improve SEND provision across NI. Budgetary pressures will inevitably limit the pace at which we can increase capacity to fully meet the levels of need in our community. However, we will continue to drive forward improvements – as the launch of the Local IMPACT Teams demonstrates.”