AQW 27409/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 20/05/2025
Answered On Date: 22/05/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any support the Education Authority's Specialist Setting Support Team provides to specialist settings in schools.

Answer:

The EA’s Specialist Setting Support Team (SSST), is a multi-service team, providing integrated support for Specialist Provision Classes in Mainstream Schools.

Working with existing services, and drawing on best practice from established settings, SSST works alongside staff in specialist provision classes, supporting delivery of high-quality provision and educational experiences for children and young people.

SSST staff work across multiple schools to provide professional learning opportunities, advice and on the ground support to leaders, teachers, and classroom assistants. The model is designed to complement current service delivery models and ensure a connected approach across EA services to streamline support for settings.

Support is provided before set-up of a new specialist provision and afterwards and includes universal and targeted support for both school staff and parents as well as specialist support for children and young people. The EA delivers support both online and in person, for senior leadership, teachers, classroom assistants and parents.

It has a range of programmes across all phases (Early Years, Primary and Post Primary), designed to support settings with curriculum and assessment, quality of provision and staff development and leadership.