AQW 8698/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 12/03/2024
Answered On Date: 26/03/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education what action he is taking to ensure that all elements of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 are commenced as soon as possible.

Answer:

ANSWER

Work continues on finalising the new Special Educational Needs (SEN) Framework, which includes the SEN and Disability (SEND) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016, new SEN Regulations and supporting Code of Practice.

The SEND Act cannot be fully implemented without the supporting SEN Regulations being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Regulations are in the final stages of drafting and once all the necessary approvals are in place they will be presented to the Education Committee for scrutiny and then commence their legislative journey through the Northern Ireland Assembly.

In the interim, my officials are working closely with the Education Authority (EA) to agree a timetable for commencing each provision within the SEND Act.