AQW 14807/22-27


Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford


Tabled Date: 11/09/2024
Answered On Date: 26/09/2024
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the number of children with special educational needs and disabilities who have a special transport need that are currently awaiting confirmation of their transport assistance.


Answer:
The transport requirements for a child with special educational needs (SEN) or disabilities are determined by the Education Authority (EA) during the statutory assessment and review process and a referral is only made to the EA transport service after a school place has been allocated. It takes time to put transport arrangements in place, particularly for those children who require more bespoke arrangements and where further input is needed from parents or health professionals. Where a new taxi run is required, EA must follow a procurement process and carry out driver and vehicle compliance checks. Access NI checks must be carried out on drivers and escorts and any specialist training delivered.
The EA informs me that as of 24 September 2024, 230 pupils of compulsory school age who have a special transport need identified on their statement of SEN were awaiting confirmation of their transport arrangements, 192 of whom were referred in September. It is important to note that this is a continuous process with 2,728 new SEN transport referrals having been received so far for the 2024/25 school year of which 373 were made in September.
Work is in progress to secure appropriate transport for 200 of the 230 school aged children who have not yet received their confirmation and the EA is awaiting further information to establish the exact requirements of the remaining 30 open referrals.
In addition to those of compulsory school age, the EA transport service is currently progressing 79 referrals for transport assistance for children who have a nursery placement, many of whom have not yet started school, had their session times confirmed or whose parents have not yet decided if they wish to avail of school transport.
I am advised that the EA transport service is working at pace to progress outstanding referrals and where it is unable to have a transport solution in place within 20 days, a parental payment will be offered.