To ask the Minister of Education to detail the number of children with special educational needs, whose parents or carers have been prosecuted for school non-attendance.

I have been advised that the Education Authority’s (EA) Education Welfare Service (EWS) does not hold this data or breakdown cases based on special educational needs (SEN). A case is taken against a Parent/Carer based on the level of co-operation. Under Article 45 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, it is the duty of parents who have a child of compulsory school age to ensure their child receives efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, aptitude, ability and to any special educational needs they may have.

Paragraph 3 (1) of Schedule 13 to the 1986 Order states that it is the duty of a parent of a registered pupil of a school to secure their regular attendance at school. This applies to all children of compulsory school age who are on the roll of a school. Parents are legally responsible for making this happen.