AQW 33045/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education

To ask the Minister of Education for an update on the implementation of (i) year 1; and (ii) year 2, actions included in the SEN Reform Agenda and Delivery Plan 2025-2030.

Asked by Nick Mathison MLA on 8 October 2025

  • Answered
  • Written
Tabled
8 October 2025
Answer due by
23 October 2025
Answered
23 October 202515 days after tabling
Department
Department of Education
Priority question
No

Answer

There has been good progress made in the early and priority year one actions as follows:

Digitisation of the statutory assessment and review process is underway with roll-out expected to commence in early 2026;

The Education Authority’s (EA) Operational Plan 2 (OP2) was published in January 2025;

Pre-school settings are receiving additional resource to support children undergoing statutory assessment from the Pre-school Education Inclusion Support Fund (PSEISF) established in November 2024, which will continue in 2025/26;

The EA’s Graduated Response Framework was published in March 2025;

The EA’s Local IMPACT Teams (LITs) are live from September 2025;

The Education & Training Inspectorate (ETI) is expected to release Phase 2 of its review of specialist provisions by December 2025;

The following projects will commence in 2025/26: Transforming the support model; pilot early intervention programme; Speech, Language & Communication programme; Inclusive Play programme; Special Schools as Resource Hubs; Inclusive education capacity-building programme; professional development in special educational needs (SEN) for teachers and classroom assistants.

All other year one and future year actions will be implemented as and when additional funding is secured.

Official sources