Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education to detail any steps his Department is taking to ensure the adequacy of support guidelines in (i) primary; and (ii) secondary, schools for children with autism.
Minister of Education: The Education Authority (EA) Local Impact Teams (LITs) recognise and value neurodiversity and are committed to supporting autistic children and young people to learn, participate and thrive in ways that reflect their individual strengths, needs and identities.
Working across mainstream primary and postprimary schools, LITs support the application of legislative guidance in ways that are neuroaffirming, inclusive and responsive, recognising autism as a neurodevelopmental variation in how individuals experience and engage with the world.
To ensure the ongoing adequacy and relevance of support guidelines, LITs:
Work collaboratively with schools to promote inclusive, autism affirming practice, supporting reasonable adjustments that enable meaningful curricular and social participation.
Provide support through consultation, modelling and specialist advice, focusing on understanding individual profiles rather than seeking to normalise difference.
Engage in continuous professional learning, contributing to and supporting training for teachers and classroom assistants grounded in neuro affirming, evidence informed practice.
Work closely with the Middletown Centre for Autism and other partners to ensure that current research and best practice underpin autism specialist work within Local Impact Teams.
Actively incorporate the autistic voice and lived experience, including through the co design and delivery of training, to inform and strengthen practice.
Work in partnership with parents, carers, schools and relevant stakeholders, ensuring planning and decision making are collaborative, respectful and child centred.
Middletown Centre for Autism (MCA) provides a range of specialist autism Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) opportunities for education professionals across educational environments. This includes over 3000 differentiated training places across key areas, including face to face, online, part day, full day and multi-day sessions including:
A unique professional growth partnership (running Feb 2026) coaching model for education professionals.
Access to Best Practice Days (May 2025 and January and May 2026).
Access to Research Bulletins.
Access to specialist resources.
MCA also provides, on request, whole school training and input into school development days.
MCA’s Learning Support and Assessment Service provides intensive support for referred students and a comprehensive transdisciplinary capacity building model for referred schools, both working in partnership with existing services and across a school year.
ENDS
Your MLA 