AQW 49029/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 18/06/2026
Answered On Date: 24/06/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any information provided to a mainstream school in advance of the placement of a child with a statement of special educational needs that included a recommendation that the child should attend a special school.

Answer:

The Education Authority (EA) has provided the following information;

The EA ensures that, in advance of a placement, any school being considered for, or named in, a child’s statement of special educational needs (SEN) is provided with all relevant information necessary to support an informed decision and to facilitate appropriate planning.

Where a child has a statement that includes a recommendation that they should attend a special school and a mainstream school placement is being considered or subsequently agreed (for example, following parental preference or panel consideration), the EA will share the following information with the mainstream school:

A copy of the child’s statement of SEN, including all appendices;

Details of the child’s identified needs across all domains;

The professional advice underpinning the statement (e.g. educational psychology, health and social care input, therapy reports);

The provision specified with the statement, including any additional supports, resources, or interventions required;

Any recorded recommendations regarding placement, including where a special school setting had been identified as appropriate at an earlier stage.

This ensures the receiving mainstream school is fully aware of the context of the placement, including that a special school placement had been recommended and can assess its capacity to meet the child’s needs in line with the statement.

In addition to the provision of documentation, EA officers will typically engage directly with the school principal and/or special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) to discuss the child’s needs, the implications for the school and any supports that may be required. This may include consideration of staffing, training, accessibility and external support services.

The EA’s processes are designed to ensure that placements are made transparently and collaboratively, with schools appropriately informed and supported and with due regard to the child’s needs, parental preference and the efficient use of resources.