AQW 11156/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 01/05/2024
Answered On Date: 20/05/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the additional (i) resources; and (ii) funding to be provided to schools that have agreed to open new Specialist Provision in Mainstream school classes for the 2024-25 academic year.

Answer:

My department and the Education Authority (EA) are about to undertake a period of collaborative engagement with those schools that indicated in a recent survey they would be willing to establish specialist provision classes in mainstream schools for September 2024 and beyond.

An individual approach will be taken with each school depending on the needs of the children who will be attending.

Staffing resources provided for specialist classes vary according to the type of specialist provision and the profile of need of the children.

Teaching and non-teaching staff have access to support, training and resources from the EA's Specialist Setting Support Team and support from the school’s dedicated Special Educational Needs (SEN) Link Officer. Additional training and support is also available through the EA’s Pupil Support Services, outreach support provided by special schools and other organisations such as Middletown Centre for Autism.

Essential accommodation works required to schools’ premises to meet the needs of children are funded and schools receive a one-off payment of £3,000 to support the establishment of new provision. Those establishing new provisions for September 2024 will also receive a capital equipment payment of £20,000.