AQW 41418/22-27
Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley
Tabled Date: 25/02/2026
Answered On Date: 13/03/2026
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any policy in relation to the completion of the autism medical questionnaire required for the Education Authority to process alternative transport arrangements for school pupils, broken down by Health and Social Care Trust.
Answer:
There is no separate “autism-specific” questionnaire policy in relation to HSC staff completing Special Educational Needs (SEN) assessment forms, autism is included under long-term medical needs. Trust clinicians complete the Education Authority (EA) SEN medical form when clinically appropriate. The EA SEN process requires a medical questionnaire, completed by a Consultant, confirming how a child’s presenting needs, not their autism diagnosis, impacts a child’s ability to use standard transport. The SEN Code of Practice is an important guidance document that all statutory educational settings/schools must follow when making decisions about identifying, assessing and making provision for children/young people who have, or may have, special educational needs. No Health & Social Care Trust has its own policy relating to SEN. The Code explicitly requires co‑operation between health and social services and education providers during identification, assessment and provision for children with SEN. This includes: Sharing relevant health information (where appropriate and with consent) Participating in multi-disciplinary decision‑making Advising schools or the EA when a pupil has needs that may affect learning.
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