AQW 12514/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education

To ask the Minister of Education (i) to detail the current average caseload for a Special Educational Needs Link Officer; and (ii) for his assessment of whether this represents a sustainable workload to support effective service delivery.

Asked by Nick Mathison MLA on 24 May 2024

  • Answered
  • Written
Tabled
24 May 2024
Answer due by
11 June 2024
Answered
11 June 202418 days after tabling
Department
Department of Education
Priority question
No

Answer

The Education Authority (EA) has confirmed that the current average caseload of a Special Educational Needs (SEN) Link Officer is 899.

While all children with a statement will have a SEN link officer, the level of direct support provided will vary widely depending on the child’s needs.

In recognition of the significant caseloads, the EA has recently approved the recruitment of additional SEN Link Officers to support effective delivery of this service.

Official sources