AQW 40969/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education
To ask the Minister of Education to detail when the task and finish group on restrictive practice last met.
Asked by Nick Mathison MLA on 19 February 2026
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 19 February 2026
- Answer due by
- 6 March 2026
- Answered
- 25 February 20266 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Education
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The Department’s Restraint and Seclusion Task and Finish Group last met on 10 April 2025.
A multi‑agency workshop, including representatives from the Task and Finish Group and colleagues from both health and education, was convened by the Department on 16 June 2025 to collaboratively address key issues identified in relation to the draft guidance, arising at the intersection of health and education within school settings.
Following this workshop, revised draft guidance was formally circulated to the Task and Finish Group on 7 July 2025 for comment, with an initial response date of 8 August, subsequently extended to 13 August 2025.
Following the receipt of feedback, officials further revised the document and submitted it to the Departmental Solicitor’s Office (DSO) on 21 October 2025. A response was received from DSO on 8 December 2025.
The Department updated the guidance in line with DSO’s advice and returned it for final review on 22 January 2026. The Department is currently awaiting a response from DSO.