To ask the Minister of Education what long-term measures her Department is undertaking to increase the supply of special educational needs trained teaching staff.

I am aware of the enormous challenges that are currently being felt within all schools particularly in relation to the availability of teaching and non-teaching staff with the appropriate skills to meet the growing needs of children and young people with special educational needs (SEN).

While the Department is not responsible for the supply of special educational needs (SEN) trained teachers, it is responsible for the overall approval of Initial Teacher Education intakes and programmes. The Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), which deliver these programmes, are responsible for ensuring the courses they provide are aligned with the Northern Ireland Curriculum and are ‘fit-for-purpose’ to prepare future teachers for the classroom.

The Department has met with representatives from the HEIs to discuss their initial teacher education and SEN offer. This work will be developed further following publication of the Independent Review of SEN, which is due shortly.