AQW 49197/11-16

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 28/09/2015
Answered On Date: 06/10/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for his assessment of the number of young people who have statements of special education needs, who progress to further education or training once they leave school.

Answer:

Depending on the nature of an individual’s needs, a young person with a statement of SEN may opt to progress to further or higher education, training or employment. Young people with particularly complex learning difficulties may also move to health and social care provision.

The 2013/14 School Leavers Survey indicates that the majority of young people in mainstream schools with statements of special educational needs (SEN) progressed to either institutions of further education or training opportunities when they left school.

There is a well embedded statutory transition planning process in all of our schools for young persons aged 14+ with statements of SEN. The Education Authority’s Transition Service helps young people with statements and their parents/carers access appropriate information, guidance and support to allow them to make informed choices for the future.

The Transition Service works in conjunction with the Department for Employment and Learning’s Careers Service and Health and Social Care Trust professionals to ensure the provision of comprehensive and co-ordinated information about the range of post-school options available to young people with statements of SEN.