AQW 28888/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 18/06/2025
Answered On Date: 27/06/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail how schools are supported to create inclusive policies which create safe environments for young people to express their identities, without fear of discrimination.

Answer:

Boards of Governors of grant-aided schools have statutory duties to safeguard the welfare of all their pupils and schools should strive to provide a safe and secure learning environment.

My department has commenced work on the development of an Inclusive System Development Programme and the research, design and trial of inclusion methodologies to promote equitable inclusive learning experiences. Whilst this is one of the actions in the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Reform Delivery Plan, the programme relates to all children at risk of exclusion from education but will focus on SEN in the initial phases.