AQW 26679/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 07/05/2025
Answered On Date: 16/05/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education why the Education Authority does not collect data on the number of pupils with Social Behaviour and Emotional Wellbeing (SBEW) needs in specialist classes, apart from those who have SBEW as their primary need.

Answer:

The Recording Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Medical Categories guidance document issued by the department, under Circular 2019/13, sets out the categories under which pupils with SEN and medical conditions, can be recorded on a school’s SEN and/or Medical Register.

Many pupils with SEN have more than one type of SEN or difficulty. For pupils with a statement of SEN who are placed in specialist settings, additional needs including Social Behaviour and Emotional Wellbeing, will therefore be recorded, if identified, and reported in the annual school census data.