All of Mr Paul Givan’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
I am happy to respond. That issue is wholly unconnected, but it is good to get the building blocks in place in our childcare facilities when it comes to literacy. The evidence indicates that the complete opposite of what the Member outlined is true. Systematic synthetic phonics has been the norm in England since 2006,…
Yes, I have met the Childminding Association, of which Patricia Lewsley-Mooney is head, on a couple of occasions as part of the roll-out of the scheme. I put on record my thanks to that organisation. The scheme's introduction created some challenge for people to get the appropriate processes in place. The Childminding…
I thank the Member for those kind remarks and for her campaigning on the issue. The draft Budget for 2025-26 includes an allocation of £50 million for the delivery of the childcare and early learning strategy. The Executive need to agree a plan before funding can be released to my Department. Although the £50 million…
I thank the Member for welcoming the announcement that I have made today about increasing the cap by 10%. We are building on the work that we have done. Work has started on the comprehensive strategy. We have got on with the job of delivering the measures that are now up and running, but there is now work to develop…
I intend to bring a comprehensive and ambitious early learning and childcare strategy for Executive consideration and public consultation by autumn this year. While I understand the anticipation around publication of a strategy, it is important to reiterate the tangible progress that has been made over the past year.…
The Member raises an important point. It is why I published the detailed SEN reform and delivery plan on 4 February. We carried out the detailed work of the end-to-end review, and we have moved towards the implementation of how we are going to address these issues. I have indicated that we need to get to a place where…
I thank the Member for her question because she highlights the funding that was secured through the transformation board. It will provide some of the funding needed to get things started, but it is only a start. As I indicated in the Assembly, the SEN reform and delivery plan will require additional funding in the…
The Member raises the important point of AHPs being available. We are working on that not just with the Education Authority but, importantly, with the Department of Health. Those local impact teams are to be stood up and in place later this year. Some are making progress, but we want them all to be up and running.…
I thank the Member for that question because he knows, as do colleagues in the House, that I published the special educational needs reform agenda and delivery plan on 4 February this year. The reform agenda is about moving the focus to the actions that are needed to ensure that our children and young people with SEN…
Since 2022, the Education Authority (EA) has been working towards a new model of delivery for its SEN pupil support services. This involves a network of local impact teams in which all the EA SEN specialists can work together to tailor support around the individual needs of the child or young person and their setting.…
I thank all Members who have participated in the debate. A number of Members spoke about the detail of the clauses, but some provided examples of the motivation behind what I am trying to achieve. Peter Martin spoke of being a father and the costs that he has. I have three girls in my house, and, come the end of the…
I beg to move Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. When, just over a year ago, I took up office as Minister of Education, I made it clear that I wanted to make a difference to hard-working families and to ensure that no child's choice of school was determined by the affordability of its uniform. Today, I am pleased to bring…
I thank those who tabled the motion and welcome the opportunity to respond. At last week's debate, I forewarned the Assembly that there might be some element of repetition, which Members should expect in my response this week. Ms Sheerin got in ahead of her colleagues. I do not know whether that is leadership in…
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank Ms Sheerin for securing the Adjournment debate and those colleagues who spoke on the issue. Having been a constituency MLA for quite a number of years, I very much share Members' frustrations. I am now in a position to, hopefully, do something about it, which is what I have been…
I beg to introduce the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill [NIA 12/22-27], which is a Bill to make provision for binding guidelines on school uniform policies to be issued by the Department of Education and to extend eligibility for school clothing allowances payable by the Education Authority.
I highlighted that issue when responding to comments on the statement that I brought to the Assembly last week. It is notable that, although I had put it on the record that funding was provided in the Foyle constituency to a Catholic maintained school, not one of those who subsequently asked questions at the Education…
FlaggedSectarianism, hate crime and community relationsCriteria met: Identity framing.
Members need to reflect on their approach. They owe that school an apology, as does the Education Committee. I went to the Committee for two hours to talk about children with special educational needs and all the other issues in our education system. For 90 minutes, the Committee prioritised an investigation — if you…
I thank the Member for his question. The answer is no. Nobody in the House has yet apologised for the misrepresentation of the scheme. People ask why there is a lack of confidence and trust in these institutions' taking of decisions. There is a lack of confidence and trust when Members deliberately misrepresent the…
I am happy to give the Member a written update on where we are currently at with the processes and the time frame to which we are working. He raises an important point. I commissioned work on forward planning to identify need and how we align with the schools estate to meet that need. The Education Authority has been…
I thank the Member for his question. I have been to Ardnashee. The work that is taking place in the Member's constituency is hugely impressive. We looked at the capital needs of special schools, and it was announced that Ardnashee would be developed in order to extend the site, because, as soon as the school opened,…
It does not require me to ask for that. The management side has already asked for that. Management side offered to go to the Labour Relations Agency for mediation, if that would be helpful. Management side is making every effort. It is available and has said that it is available. There is no inhibitor for that. The…
I thank the Member for the question. There was a period of intense negotiations during January and, as the financial circumstances for my Department were crystallising and work was taking place to identify the resource that we would need, I was pleased that those negotiations concluded with management side being able…
I will continue to engage. I assure Members that work is ongoing between my Department and the Department of Health on this issue. I have asked for that to be looked at, and officials are engaging on it. I know that the Member's colleagues have had an interest in this. They have met me and can testify to the ongoing…
We held a meeting with a number of principals about the pressures that Knockevin and other schools face around allied health professionals and nurses. I have every sympathy with and support for the principal of Knockevin. These schools need to be supported with appropriate healthcare because they are dealing with very…