McGlone welcomes growth of Scoil Spreagtha scheme

SDLP Irish Language Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA has welcomed the growth of the Scoil Spreagtha scheme. The group has announced recruitment plans as part of its growth and development in 2026. Mr McGlone helped Irish language organisation Gael Linn secure funding to continue the scheme which provides Irish language teaching in schools across the North. … Continue reading McGlone welcomes growth of Scoil Spreagtha scheme

AQW 30017/22-27 – Special Education Needs

Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education to detail any steps he has taken to move to strategic planning for the provision of education places for children with a Statement of Special Education Needs by the start of the school year, in order to break the cycle of reacting to pressures … Continue reading AQW 30017/22-27 – Special Education Needs

AQW 1082/22-27 – Teacher Training Funding

Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for the Economy when a decision will be made on funding for teacher education places across the four Initial Teacher Education providers. [Priority Written] Minister for the Economy: I have already written to the Education Minister to advise that my Department is content to fund the … Continue reading AQW 1082/22-27 – Teacher Training Funding

AQW 29794/17-22 – Standardising pre-school education session length

Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 28471/17-22, AQW 28472/17-22, AQW 28473/17-22, AQW 28474/17-22 and AQW 28566/17-22, (i) when her Department will undertake a detailed scoping study to accurately assess standardising pre-school education session length; and (ii) for an implementation timeline. Minister of Education: The timing and parameters … Continue reading AQW 29794/17-22 – Standardising pre-school education session length

AQO 3138/17-22 – Area Planning Rural Schools

Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education what protections exist to ensure rural schools are not disproportionately impacted by area planning. Minister of Education: Area Planning is a statutory process, requiring comprehensive and meaningful consultation before and after any Development Proposal (DP) is published. The Case for Change (CfC) that sets … Continue reading AQO 3138/17-22 – Area Planning Rural Schools

AQWs on Childcare Provision

Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): (AQW 28471 17-22) To ask the Minister of Education what plans does she have to match the number of hours of free childcare or pre-school education provided in England, Scotland, and Wales; (AQW 28472 17-22) To ask the Minister of Education when was the last independent review of the provision … Continue reading AQWs on Childcare Provision

AQO 2863/17-22 – Additional COVID-19 funding for childcare sector

Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education to outline the additional funding that will be provided to the childcare sector due to COVID-19 pressures. Minister of Education: From 1 April 2020 to 30 September 2021, my Department paid approximately £37m Covid-19 funding to the childcare sector via two separate funding schemes … Continue reading AQO 2863/17-22 – Additional COVID-19 funding for childcare sector

McGlone Calls for Plan to Tackle Back-to-School Costs

SDLP MLA for Mid Ulster, Patsy McGlone, has called on the Education Minister Michelle McIlveen to produce a plan to tackle the ‘back to school’ costs that are pushing more and more families into debt. The call came after it was revealed that over one third of parents had been pushed into debt as a … Continue reading McGlone Calls for Plan to Tackle Back-to-School Costs