AQW 35412/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 13/11/2025
Answered On Date: 21/11/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for an update on the work of his Department’s Inclusion Development Team.

Answer:

The Inclusion Development Team (IDT) is responsible for the development of Inclusion policy, delivery of the Inclusion aspects of the SEN Reform Delivery Plan and leading on collaborative working with the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education (EASNIE).

Since the team was established in June 2025, its primary focus has been on progressing the two Inclusion projects funded by the Public Sector Transformation Board, in collaboration with key delivery partners: the Inclusion Capacity Building Programme and Inclusive Play Programme. Both projects are expected to commence in early 2026.

IDT has also been working closely with EASNIE who is supporting my department’s policy work on Inclusion in Education for Northern Ireland.