AQW 21287/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 24/01/2025
Answered On Date: 11/02/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any work carried out in collaboration with the Minister of Health (i) to benchmark how many allied health professionals (AHP) of each discipline are required to support the current needs of special educational needs learners in the education system; and (ii) to develop a joint workforce strategy to provide the appropriate number of AHPs required.

Answer:

The Department of Health (DoH) has advised that work is underway to further understand the Allied Health Professional (AHP) therapeutic needs of the children and young people currently enrolled in special schools. This information will inform the commissioning of services for current and future need.

As we progress the governance and accountability structures around the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Reform Agenda, officials will consider the work of the existing Joint Health and Education Oversight Group (JHEOG), which includes membership from across both departments, the Education Authority (EA) and the Public Health Agency (PHA), to ensure that the work plan is aligned to the relevant delivery actions and that this work is prioritised.

I am committed to working in partnership with the Minister of Health to ensure that we can deliver for children and young people with SEN and complex medical and healthcare needs.