Debate contribution: Special Educational Needs: School Placements
Debate contribution by Mr Paul Givan on .
- MLA
- Mr Paul Givan
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 6 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Special Educational Needs: School Placements
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5776864
Read the official Assembly record
Text
The EA has a comprehensive oversight arrangement that reviews decisions regarding the establishment of specialist provision in mainstream schools. The EA maintains internal oversight through its senior leadership team. All specialist provision proposals will undergo an eight-week consultation process. The EA will continue to work with all stakeholders when considering proposals, in accordance with the established framework and strategic operational plan. I can therefore assure the Member that there is oversight of the process. I can also inform her that, when the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) carried out its first phase of assessment of specialist provision in mainstream settings, its report was encouraging about the quality of what was provided, which was good, and about its enriching the environment of the whole school, which is what we want by way of delivering an inclusive school population. The ETI is undertaking the second phase of its assessment process to provide assurances that specialist provision is working and to identify where improvements can be made, because, ultimately, we want to ensure that we do the best that we can.
178 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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