AQW 32356/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 30/09/2025
Answered On Date: 07/10/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the criteria used when considering whether a child should move to Stage 3 of the SEN Code of Practice.

Answer:

The Education Authority has advised that in accordance with the SEN Code of Practice (CoP) a child/young person will only move to stage 3 following a statutory assessment of their educational needs (CoP part III).

If the advice received as part of the statutory assessment indicates that special educational provision required to meet the needs of the child/young person is over and above that normally available to a school, then a proposed statement will be drafted and due process followed to issuing a final statement.