AQW 7502/16-21

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 21/11/2016
Answered On Date: 06/12/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to outline the reporting system that is in place to ensure that children with speech and language issues are recognised and support is put in place as soon as possible.

Answer:

The framework that all schools are required to follow is as set out in the Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs.

This framework allows for the identification and assessment of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) across a continuum of five stages. When a pupil is identified as having a SEN-related difficulty, including speech and language difficulties, the school involved is required to respond by implementing, monitoring and reviewing relevant and purposeful measures to meet those identified needs and seeking support from external specialists, as necessary.