To ask the Minister of Education how his Department is collecting feedback from pupils, parents and staff in relation to their experience of newly established Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools providers.

The Education and Training Inspectorate published part one of an evaluation on Specialist Provisions in Mainstream Schools (November 2024). To inform the report, inspectors held discussions with key members of staff, including principals, special educational needs co-ordinators and other school co-ordinators, teachers and classroom assistants from the specialist provisions. Inspectors also met with a number of learners and with 20 parents remotely.

The second part of this evaluation, which commenced in September 2024 has continued to take account of the views and lived experiences of learners, parents and staff. Inspectors met with the leaders, teachers and classroom assistants working in the 134 Specialist Provision in Mainstream classes visited as part of the evaluation. Inspectors held meetings with 100 learners (35 in primary schools and 65 in post-primary schools) to hear their views and also met with 100 parents who have children attending Specialist Provisions in Mainstream Schools (45 in primary schools and 55 in post-primary schools).

The Education Authority has advised that the Specialist Setting Support Team completes regular evaluations to collect feedback in relation to specialist educational provisions in mainstream schools including evaluative discussions with setting staff, review of individual learner plans, parent evaluations, setting case studies, and baseline self-evaluation frameworks.