To ask the Minister of Education to detail the specific work undertaken to date by each of the seven project workstreams that have been established to take forward the recommendations contained within the Landscape Review of Education Authority.

The Landscape Review of the Education Authority (EA) is a key priority for my Department and officials are working with the EA to address the recommendations and deliver the Action Plan. The specific work undertaken within the seven project workstreams is set out below:

Clarity on Role and Function of EA

DE officials undertook a desktop review outlining relevant EA statutory functions and high-level policy requirements. This was completed in September 2023.

Service Delivery Model for all EA functions and services (including alternative models)

DE and EA are currently considering the current service delivery models for each of EA’s business areas. This will help inform which additional service areas should be prioritised for review (in addition to those already under review within Project 4).

EA Performance, Data and Governance

The EA has reviewed its Data Strategy, which includes investigating data sharing/integration and departmental/sectoral needs. The EA has also streamlined performance metrics within its Performance Improvement Framework, with a view to improving measurement of outcomes for children and young people. In addition, the EA is progressing the EdIS data platform, which will support further development of the EA Insights Centre of Excellence, as well as a holistic governance approach to data management for schools.

End-to-End Reviews

As a result of two external reviews of EA Human Resources (HR) a People Focused HR Programme Board was established to deliver recommendations made in the two reviews. To date, this has delivered, stabilisation of pressures in order to manage peak recruitment demand for schools returning in the new academic year; a revised service delivery model for Resourcing and a new customer contact model for HR; the latter will launch in October 2024 and will include an ‘HR Helpdesk’.

Furthermore, End-to-End Reviews have commenced on School Improvement and Special Educational Needs (SEN). These reviews are running concurrently and working closely with a dual focus of delivering high quality services for schools, pupils and parents, as well as ensuring value for money.

The school improvement policy, Every School a Good School’, was published in 2009. The End-to-End Review will develop a revised policy framework to take account of the changing education landscape and to focus on providing excellent education for every child. A key focus of the Review is to assess the effectiveness of the current school improvement services and develop options for an improved delivery model. To date, phase one (mapping of the delivery model) has been completed, phase two (shaping the future approach by examining school improvement levers) is progressing and phase three (to develop a draft policy and options for implementation) has just commenced. The revised policy framework will be subject to public consultation, expected to commence in Spring 2025.

The SEN End-to-End Review brings together existing work being taken forward under the EA SEND Transformation Programme, as well as 12 DE-led workstreams including clarity on current policy and legislation, setting an outcomes framework in place, examining SEN finance, the statementing process, workforce development, transitions and pupil support. The review aims to address gaps and explore alternative delivery models in order to deliver transformational change. The overarching vision for the review is to ensure that children with SEN get the right support, from the right people, at the right time and in the right place to enable them to be happy, learning and succeeding. Engagement with stakeholders is nearing completion and this will inform the development of a transformation delivery plan

EA People

EA initially developed and implemented an Interim People Plan for 2023-2024 which bridged the period until the full five-year plan was developed. Between November 2022 and December 2023 EA engaged directly with its staff with the purpose of giving EA staff a voice in shaping what it is like to work in EA in order to improve morale and ensure a child centred EA wide culture.

This staff feedback has formed the basis of EA’s ‘We are EA’ People Plan 2024-2029 which launched in June 2024. The Plan sets out what EA’s people can expect from their leaders and each other over the next 5 years, focusing on practical actions that EA can take to improve the experience of our people in order to improve the experience of our children and young people.

EA Culture, Communication and Engagement

EA has developed a customer service charter and a customer excellence programme to incrementally build on practices, strategies, technologies and culture to enable EA to deliver a joined-up customer experience for all its service users. This has included work to improve the standardisation of helplines, transitioning to a cloud-based telephony system and piloting a Schools Feedback mechanism. A School Leadership Forum has also been established to provide school leaders with the opportunity to co-design and feed prioritisation of initiatives. A three-year overarching Communications Strategy 2025/6 to 2027/8 and action plan is being developed to improve communications and engagement with schools, parents, children and young people and wider stakeholders; develop stronger partnerships; and build greater trust and confidence in the organisation.

EA Partnership Agreement

A joint DE and EA project team has taken forward development of a new Partnership Agreement to replace the existing EA Management Statement and Financial Memorandum (MSFM). A jointly agreed assessment of proportionate autonomy and a first draft of the new Partnership Agreement has been completed.