AQW 22242/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 10/02/2025
Answered On Date: 18/02/2025
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 21519/22-27, to detail the longest period of time that a classroom assistant currently working in a school has spent without a valid Access NI check in place.

Answer:

When a school engages a temporary staff member, they are required to follow the guidance set out in DE Circular 2024/10, related to pre-employment and Access NI requirements and safer resourcing practices. Where a staff member has not submitted the required paperwork needed by Access NI, the Education Authority engages with the school Principal to remind them of the requirement to have this completed.

Despite protracted communication between the EA and the employee/school, on occasions the documentation to undertake the check can remain outstanding for a prolonged period. As of 11 February 2025, the EA advise that the longest period that a classroom assistant has an outstanding Access NI check for is two years and five months. I am informed by the EA that in this particular case, the EA has contacted the school/employee nine times seeking the necessary information.

I have written to the EA Chief Executive asking him to urgently review the Access NI process and he has advised that the EA will be taking robust action to address outstanding checks.