AQO 1966/22-27

Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 01/05/2025
Answered On Date: 13/05/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for an update on progress to create statutory guidance in relation to children missing education.

Answer:

8. AQO 1966/22-27

Question:

To ask the Minister of Education for an update on progress to create statutory guidance in relation to children missing in education.

(Michelle Guy, MLA – Lagan Valley)

Answer:

A DE working group was set up in November 2024 to scope out the requirements needed to address Children Missing Education in Northern Ireland. The objectives of the Working Group are:

To analyse the existing legislation, current duties, obligations, and potential gaps.

To produce a process map of the various scenarios.

To establish the current and potential future operational support available.

To outline what happens in other jurisdictions including how we link with them.

To analyse the available data. (What do we know? What is missing?).

To link with other Departments (e.g. DOH / TEO).

To produce a report that sets out the current landscape and options on next steps.

This work is progressing however, no decision has been taken to create statutory guidance in this regard.