To ask the Minister of Education to outline what data will be used as a baseline for monitoring the impact of the Special Educational Needs/Disability Reform Agenda Outcomes Framework 2025-2030.

The Special Educational Needs (SEN) Reform Agenda Outcomes Framework was developed following extensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders involved in the End to End (E2E) Review of SEN/Disability (SEN/D). Engagement included Government departments and Arms Length Bodies (ALBs), Community and Voluntary sector representatives, academics, schools, practitioners, children and young people and parents/carers.

Performance measures have been developed using an Outcomes Based Accountability™ (OBA) approach and includes population indicators for the following four identified groups: children and young people, parents and carers, staff and schools and services. Together, these population indicators will measure the impact of delivery of the SEN Reform and Delivery Plan actions at a population level.

Collection of data will be via surveys and analysis of existing data sources. For those data required through surveys, baseline data will be gathered at the beginning of the 2025 academic year and followed up with annual surveys to monitor performance. Data will also be gathered from existing Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) data sources across Health and Education and administrative data sources held by the Education Authority (EA).

Monitoring and analysis will take place throughout 2025-2030 with annual reporting. Contribution to outcomes will be monitored via ‘direction of travel on the population indicators’ and whether things are progressing positively, negatively or remaining static. The SEN Reform Outcomes Framework details all of the above and also covers how individual actions will be monitored.