AQW 26997/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 13/05/2025
Answered On Date: 21/05/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 15912/22-27 and AQO 1108/22-27, for an update on any plans he has to expand interventions as part of the Early Intervention Transformation Programme to pre-school and nursery school settings which enroll Children Looked After.

Answer:

As previously advised, the focus on early intervention in respect of Children Looked After (CLA), has been to make provisions at a primary level and this has been delivered by the Education Authority under the auspices of the ‘Primary Children Looked After Advisory Service’.

An independent evaluation of this service is planned for during Academic year 2025/26 and officials will then bring forward recommendations for my consideration.

It is important to note that any expansion into early years settings will be contingent upon the availability of financial resources.