To ask the Minister of Education whether the practice of treating children with special educational needs and disabilities as supernumerary will end as part of his special educational needs reforms.

Children with a statement of special educational needs (SEN) are currently considered as supernumerary for admissions purposes, meaning a child who holds a statement can access the school most suitable for their needs regardless of whether places remain available through the open enrolment procedure.

While this remains the existing practice, my officials are in the process of bringing proposals to me for my consideration.