AQW 11624/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 09/05/2024
Answered On Date: 23/05/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education whether the uniform grant will be reviewed to take account of the adaptations and changes required to school uniforms for children with disabilities.

Answer:

The current guidance on school uniform policy states that schools should consult widely on proposed uniform policies including with groups representing pupils with special educational needs or disabilities. I plan to launch a public consultation exercise on the review of school uniform policy in June with a view to setting the current non-statutory guidance on a statutory basis.

The consultation will set out proposals to strengthen the guidance, including ensuring schools take account of particular adaptations or adjustments that may be required for certain groups of pupils as well as consideration of the bands used to determine the level of the uniform grant available to different pupil cohorts.

The Education Authority is responsible for the determination of the rates of uniform grant. Following the completion of review of school uniform policy, it will be for the EA to take account of the available funding in determining the rates of uniform grant.