AQW 11329/22-27


Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast


Tabled Date: 03/05/2024
Answered On Date: 16/05/2024
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any plans he has to streamline the free school meal application process for parents of Special Educational Needs (SEN) children with specialised diets, given the requirement to complete a form to request a paper form while all other non-SEN free school meal applications can be completed online.


Answer:
The Education Authority Pre-School Education Group (EA PEG) is tasked with securing sufficient pre-school provision in local areas.
Stage One of the pre-school admissions process concluded on 25 April with 98.33% of children offered a funded pre-school place; 89.2% at their parents’ first preference setting. Stage Two of the admissions process is currently underway and parents will be advised of the outcome on 11 June.
The EA has confirmed that sufficient funded pre-school places remain in all areas, with 65 funded pre-school places still available in the South Belfast Parliamentary Constituency area at the close of Stage One of the pre-school admissions process.
The EA PEG continue to monitor pre-school provision in all areas including South Belfast.
In respect of primary admissions, my department works with schools to create additional capacity in sectors and areas where oversubscription arises. At the conclusion of the primary admissions process the EA has advised that one child resident in South Belfast was still to secure a place with 237 places still available.
Children with a statement of specialist educational needs (SEN) follow a different process than the general admissions process, one which seeks to secure an appropriate placement which meets their individual needs. There is significant demand for specialist education places particularly for pre-school and primary one children, and the Belfast area is an area of pressure. The Education Authority, supported by my Department, is working at pace to create additional capacity across the education system to ensure sufficient appropriate provision for all learners.