Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education to detail any steps he is taking to improve support for students with special educational needs and disabilities and their families when transitioning to (i) post-primary and; (ii) post-16 education.
Minister of Education: (i) For transitions to post-primary education, the Education Authority (EA) works with pupils, families and schools to plan transitions in advance. For pupils with a Statement of special educational needs (SEN), the annual review process is used to consider the pupil’s needs, discuss suitable post-primary provision and consult parents on placement. Information is shared with the receiving school to support continuity of provision, and EA services provide advice, guidance and targeted support to schools and families. The development of additional specialist provision in mainstream post-primary schools also aims to increase access to appropriate local placements.
(ii) For transitions to post-16 education, transition planning for a young person with a Statement begins during the school year in which they turn 14 and is reviewed annually. Planning is person-centred and involves the young person where appropriate, their parents or carers, the school, EA’s Education Transition Service, the Careers Service and, where appropriate, Health and Social Care Trusts. The EA continues to strengthen accessible information and guidance for families, multi-agency coordination and earlier planning so that young people experience a more coherent move into further education, training, employment or other suitable post-school provision.
My department and the Department for the Economy continue to work together to ensure there are appropriate pathways for school leavers at the end of their educational journey.
ENDS
