AQW 16119/22-27

Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 02/10/2024
Answered On Date: 07/10/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education whether additional funding will be available to schools to support newcomer children where English is not their first language.

Answer:

Schools receive additional funding annually through the Common Funding Formula for each newcomer child enrolled at the October census. A newcomer child is defined as a child who does not share a first language in common with their teachers and peers (i.e. English, or Irish for those children educated within Irish Medium schools). In the 2023/24 financial year, the total additional funding amounted to circa £22m of funding to schools in support of newcomer children.

In addition to newcomer pupil funding directed to schools, the Department also supports children arriving in Northern Ireland through a number of Government schemes, including those for the resettlement of Afghan and Syrian citizens, the Homes for Ukraine scheme and The Executive Office’s Dispersal fund for children seeking asylum and refuge. In the current financial year a total of over £900k will be directed to schools and the Education Authority (EA) to remove barriers to education for this cohort of children and to ensure they are welcomed and succeeding within our education system.

The EA’s Intercultural Education Service (IES) provide specific newcomer support to schools and families around the school placement process, including welfare supports such as Free School Meals, Uniform Grants and School Transport. This includes advice and guidance to families for children with Special Educational Needs and disability.

In partnership with the EA’s Educational Psychology Service, IES operate the ‘Schools Trauma Advisory and Referral Service’ (STARS) which is open to all schools with newcomer pupils who are concerned about trauma as the main presenting barrier to learning and integration in school.