Debate contribution: Special Educational Needs: Post-19 Provision
Debate contribution by Dr Caoimhe Archibald on .
- MLA
- Dr Caoimhe Archibald
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 1 April 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Special Educational Needs: Post-19 Provision
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4876897
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Last year, my departmental officials were tasked by my predecessor, Conor Murphy, with reviewing the existing skills and training provision and the relevant legislative protections for school-leavers with special educational needs. They were asked to bring forward recommendations. They took a twin-track approach to that work, which involved a desk-based review of the wide range of relevant reports, recommendations and research and the commissioning of a piece of comparative work from Stranmillis University College on the legislative arrangements across Britain and Ireland. In parallel, they have undertaken more than 80 visits, meetings and engagements with a wide array of stakeholders, which has included parents, schools, young people, colleges, training providers, the community and voluntary sector, representative organisations, other Departments, the health trusts and counterparts from other jurisdictions. That has been incredibly valuable in drawing out the different issues and perspectives. That work is being drawn to a close, and my officials will report to me shortly. Once I have had the opportunity to consider those findings and their advice, I will update the House. I expect to bring issues to the Executive for an informed discussion on the next steps.
190 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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