AQW 15914/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 30/09/2024
Answered On Date: 07/11/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the work being undertaken between his Department, the Education Authority and the Department of Education to ensure the needs of children looked after are being met in preschool settings.

Answer:

My Department and the Department of Education and our respective arms-length bodies jointly own the Strategy for Looked After Children, A Life Deserved, which seeks to improve the wellbeing of looked after children, regardless of their age or where they receive services. Looked after children reviews, which include representation from education, consider the needs of all looked after children holistically and how these should be met. This includes a consideration of the child’s emotional and educational development and general wellbeing needs. Depending on the age of the child, this could include supporting access to pre-school or providing greater support at pre-school.

Health and Social Care Trusts, in their role of early years services regulators, meet regularly with the Education Authority to consider pre-school placement provision for all children.