To ask the Minister of Education to outline how many classroom assistants are currently employed on a temporary contract.

The Education Authority (EA) is the employing authority for the majority of classroom assistants working in schools in Northern Ireland. The EA has advised that 13,992 classroom assistants are currently employed using a temporary contract.

The high number of classroom assistants employed in this manor is undoubtedly a consequence of the current one-to-one classroom assistant support model. This is because schools are unsure over the length of contract to offer a classroom assistant if there is uncertainty as to how long the pupil they are supporting will remain at the school.

It is clear that we need to critically evaluate the current SEN support model with a view to developing a more responsive and flexible approach that provides the best possible support for our children. We need a model that also provides more stability for the workforce and ensures they have access to quality training and a clear pathway for career progression.