To ask the Minister of Education for an update on the creation of a revised newcomer policy.

The Department commenced a review of its Supporting Newcomer Pupils policy in October 2017 in response to the growing number and increasing diversity of newcomer pupils arriving in Northern Ireland. In 2019, the Department held a public consultation on its review of the policy however, work was temporarily suspended in March 2020 due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, work recommenced with policy proposals prepared for consideration of an incoming Minister.

Officials will now build on the previous consultation and revisit policy proposals to account for the current context, with a view to presenting proposals for my consideration.