To ask the Minister of Education to detail any support that will be provided to schools on how best to support transgender pupils, following his announcement that the 2019 transgender guidance has been withdrawn.

I wrote to all schools (8 September) to advise that the ‘Guidance for Schools, EOTAS Centres and Youth Service on Supporting Transgender Young People’, issued by the Education Authority, had been withdrawn with immediate effect.

Schools were advised to contact my department with any queries in relation to the policy statement. In addition, support and advice remain available to schools on this matter from Education Authority support services in accordance with Department of Education policy.