To ask the Minister of Education to detail any role his Department has in the (i) creation; and (ii) amendment of statements of special education needs for children in non-statutory pre-school settings.

The statutory responsibility for securing provision for pupils with special educational needs rests with schools and the Education Authority (EA). The department has no role in the identification and assessment process nor any role in the determination of appropriate provision for young people with SEN.

Placements for children with a statement of SEN in non-grant-aided schools, including non-statutory pre-school provision, requires Department of Education approval (pursuant to Art 12 of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996).

Therefore, when the EA has determined that a placement in an institution other than a grant-aided school is appropriate and the pupil concerned has a statement of special educational needs, the EA must seek the department’s consent before naming the placement in the pupil’s statement.