AQW 34705/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 05/11/2025
Answered On Date: 14/11/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 33047/22-27, for an update on the establishment of an Enhanced Advocacy Service, and a one-stop website for parents.

Answer:

The SEN Reform Governance Framework will be published on the department’s website in the coming weeks.

(i) The following funded initiatives are planned to commence in the first term of the 2025/26 academic year: Transforming the Support Model; A programme for 2-3 year-olds with emerging SEN; In-school support model for children in pre-school and foundation stage; Introduction of SEN Assistant Training in Pre-School & Foundation stage; Special Schools as Resource Centres of Expertise.

(ii) Detailed indicative budget allocations for specific actions are not intended for publication as they may be subject to change.

It is intended that the appointment of a Special Educational Needs Champion will be progressed in 2026.

The Governance Structures include the establishment of an expert advisory forum. In addition to this, there are a number of other advisory panels across the Department of Education (DE) and consideration is being given to introducing SEN expertise to these to ensure alignment with the SEN Reform Agenda.

The action to establish an Enhanced Advocacy Service is under consideration. Early scoping has commenced on the development of a ‘one-stop’ website for parents; this action will be developed further in 2026.