This paper reports on the use of the Q sort technique as a method for identifying the Special Education Service needs of primary schools. Use of the Q sort technique has provided planners associated with the Box Hill Special Education Unit (Victoria) with an empirical base for decision making. Through the use of Q sort, principals and teachers in the Inspectorate have become aware of the services offered by S.E. U. units and have become actively involved in selecting the special education services suited to the needs of their schools. As a result of the systematic identification and analysis of need, S.E.U. consultants in the area have been able to plan their activities, assured that the services they offer are appropriate to their clients’ needs.