AQW 32353/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education

To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) the legal status of the revised code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs; and (ii) how it is applied in decision-making by the Education Authority and schools.

Asked by Nick Mathison MLA on 30 September 2025

  • Answered
  • Written
Tabled
30 September 2025
Answer due by
15 October 2025
Answered
6 October 20256 days after tabling
Department
Department of Education
Priority question
No

Answer

The draft code of practice has no legal status.

The Education Authority has advised that, schools must continue to have regard to the 1998 SEN Code of Practice and its 2005 supplement in all respects with the exception of recording children with SEN under the new three stages, as outlined in DE Circular 2021/06.

Official sources