Making a Referral for Post Primary Behaviour Support

Find out about the referral process. 

Making A Request for Support from the Service

Schools are reminded of the graduated approach to supporting their children and young people with SEN under the new SEN Framework and SEN Code of Practice: Identification, Assessment and Provision by Schools.  

The decision to make a request for Stage 2 provision should be made following the review of a child’s progress at Stage 1 of the Code of Practice through their Personal Learning Plan (PLP) and consideration that all appropriate school-based provision (as detailed in the school’s SEN Provision Map) has been exhausted. Discussions should take place between the SENCo, the principal, teachers, appropriate EA advisory and support service and the parent that Stage 2 provision may be necessary.  

To help inform the school’s deliberations, the school should also review the actions which have taken place with reference to the appropriate checklist in the Annexes to the Code of Practice. 

Referral Pathway

1 School Completes Online Referral

The school completes the appropriate online referral form. 

2 Assessment

Once the referral is received and processed, the Service will determine the level of support required.  The service will contact the school to progress.  

3 Referral Decision

If the referral is accepted the Service will contact the school to gather further information to inform recommendations. If the referral is not accepted the Service will contact the school to discuss further.

This referral pathway is for a child or young person with social, behavioural, emotional and wellbeing needs.  

Referred children can access this support with or without a Statement of SEN following a request for support made by the school. 

For certain support and provisions, a request for support from the school must be made in consultation with an Education Authority’s Educational Psychologist. 

Once a referral is received and processed the service will initially determine the level of support.  A designated Post Primary Behaviour Support and Provisions Service School Contact will get in touch with the school to progress. Ongoing assessment informs and guides appropriate support, which is needs-led.  

Where a referral is not deemed necessary, we will return the referral form to the school explaining why the referral has not been accepted and discuss any additional information which may be required or to discuss next steps. 

Schools can make a referral using the online referral form.  

Making a Request for support using the Smart request for support system

In order to simplify making a request for professional learning and/or pupil support, we have developed a locality based online form to request support from the Post Primary Behaviour Support and Provisions Service. These can be accessed by clicking on the relevant link below for your Locality.

  • Please ensure you complete the Pupil & Parent consent proforma for any pupil based requests for support in advance of completing the request for support.

We have prepared a proforma that enables school leaders to easily outline supports afforded to date as well as well as obtain pupil and parent consent. All requests for Pupil related support must have this as an upload in addition to two Individual Education Plans/Personal Learning Plans with review. 


In order to support school leaders with making an online request for support we have developed a simple process guide for school leaders, this can be viewed below.

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Contact the Post Primary Behaviour Support and Provisions Service

The Post Primary Behaviour Support and Provisions Service can be contacted for advice and information specific to young people who have, or may have, behaviour support needs.