To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 16119/22-27, (i) whether the Schools Trauma Advisory and Referral Service is no longer taking referrals; and (ii) whether this service will be expanded.

The Schools Trauma Advisory Referral Service (STARS) was available to schools for early advice and onwards referrals to the Education Psychology and other Education Authority (EA) services.

The Department and the EA are currently seeking additional Asylum Seekers and Refugees (ASR) Dispersal funding from the Home Office to help develop alternative ways of providing trauma-informed training, advice and support to schools who require urgent early intervention. This will involve provision of Assessment Trained Professionals to undertake Trauma Informed reviews of new arrivals and Trauma Informed Practice Training for Teachers and Pastoral Care Leads, as soon as possible after arrival.

It is anticipated that revised support arrangements will be in place during Spring 2025 pending funding being made available to DE and EA.