Making a Referral for Moderate Learning Difficulties

Referral process for accessing support.

Making A Referral for Support from SENIS MLD

Schools are reminded of the graduated response 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 of that all appropriate school-based provision (as detailed in the school’s SEN Provision Map) haves been exhausted. Discussions should take place between the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo), the principal, teachers, appropriate EA advisory and support service and the parent or child over compulsory school age that Stage 2 provision may be necessary.

To help inform the school’s decisions, the school should also review the appropriate checklist in the Annexes to the Code of Practice.

SENIS MLD Referral Pathway

Referral pathway for Moderate Learning Difficulties is for a child or young person with Moderate Learning Difficulties alongside associated SEN needs, as recorded on the SEN Register of the school.

Referred children can access support with or without a Statement of Special Educational Needs.  Referrals can be made in the following ways

Referral Pathway for children without a Statement

1 Educational Psychologist consults Special Educational Needs Coordinator

The Educational Psychologist consults with the Special Educational Needs Coordinator to determine if a referral is required. 

2 Educational Psychologist Referral

An EA Educational Psychologist makes a referral to the Service on behalf of the parents or carers and the school that the child attends.

3 Baseline Assessment

If the referral is accepted the Service will contact the school to complete a baseline assessment of the child, gathering further information to help inform and guide appropriate support. 

  1. A referral from an Educational Psychologist employed by the Education Authority is made on behalf of parents or carers and the school that the child attends.
  2. The Educational Psychologist, in conjunction with the Special Educational Needs Coordinatorcomplies a letter or involvement which details the child’s strengths, presentation of Moderate Learning Difficulty, scores including IQ , literacy and numeracy and their special educational needs. The child’s parents, their teachers and school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator will have an opportunity to contribute information.
  3. Where a referral is deemed necessary, the letter of involvement is emailed by the Educational Psychologist to the appropriate SENIS Moderate Learning Difficulty referral mailbox.
  4. Once received and accepted, a designated Advisory Teacher will get in touch with the school to complete a baseline assessment of the child by gathering information from them, their parents and school staff. This assessment informs and guides appropriate support, which is needs-led.

Referral Pathway for children with a Statement

1 Special Educational Needs a school determines if a referral is required.

2 School/parent makes a referral to the Service.

3 If the referral is accepted the Service will contact the school to complete a baseline assessment of the child, gathering further information to help inform and guide appropriate support.

  1. A referral from a school/parent for a child or young person with Moderate Learning Difficulty on their Statement of Special Educational Needs can be made directly by emailing a referral to the appropriate SENIS Moderate Learning Difficulty referral mailbox.
  2. Once received and accepted, a designated Advisory Teacher will get in touch with the school to complete a baseline assessment of the child by gathering information from them, their parents and school staff. This assessment informs and guides appropriate support, which is needs-led

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Contact the Moderate Learning Difficulties Service

The Moderate Learning Difficulties Service can be contacted for advice and information specific to children and young people who have, or may have, moderate learning difficulties.