AQW 12514/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 24/05/2024
Answered On Date: 11/06/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education (i) to detail the current average caseload for a Special Educational Needs Link Officer; and (ii) for his assessment of whether this represents a sustainable workload to support effective service delivery.

Answer:

The Education Authority (EA) has confirmed that the current average caseload of a Special Educational Needs (SEN) Link Officer is 899.

While all children with a statement will have a SEN link officer, the level of direct support provided will vary widely depending on the child’s needs.

In recognition of the significant caseloads, the EA has recently approved the recruitment of additional SEN Link Officers to support effective delivery of this service.