AQW 22411/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 12/02/2025
Answered On Date: 27/02/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, pursuant to AQW 21078/22-27, to detail the specific work he has undertaken in collaboration with the Minister of Education to benchmark how many allied health professionals of each discipline are required to support learners with special educational needs and disabilities in all school types.

Answer:

The Public Health Agency, in partnership with Education sector colleagues, is leading a comprehensive analysis of the therapeutic needs of children with Special Educational Needs in Special Schools. Three SEN project leads have been recruited to date to specifically consider the data to inform the needs of children with SEN. This work is planned to be completed on a phased basis by March 2026. The work is complex and will require considerable interagency working between health and education and the analysis of multiple datasets.

This comprehensive analysis will establish the level of need based on the current service model. This will inform a new integrated joint health and education workforce plan for AHPs supporting children with SEN.