Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education to detail any steps he is taking to support neurodivergent children transitioning from primary to secondary school.
Minister of Education: For children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs, the annual review process provides an opportunity to consider future educational provision and planning for transition to post-primary education. As part of this process, the child’s needs are reviewed with parents, the school and relevant professionals to identify appropriate provision and supports.
Transition arrangements are discussed with parents in advance of transfer to post-primary school to help ensure that the receiving school is aware of the child’s needs and that appropriate supports and provision can be planned and implemented.
The Education Authority’s (EA) Local IMPACT Teams support neurodivergent children and young people through a range of pathways. Transition planning and support may form part of these pathways, where appropriate, to help ensure continuity of provision as children move from primary to post-primary education.
The EA Local IMPACT Teams work collaboratively with schools, parents and carers to provide specialist advice and support tailored to the child or young person’s strengths and needs. This may include consultation, capacity-building and targeted interventions to support successful transitions.
The Middletown Centre for Autism provides a range of training sessions (face to face, online and whole school) to support transitions including specific training addressing primary and post-primary transition.
Schools can also access transition related training through the EA’s website at
https://www.eani.org.uk/services/training-and-development/professional-development-opportunities
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