To ask the Minister of Education whether he will consider funding the development and implementation of a Northern Ireland-wide anti-bullying programme, similar to the FUSE programme in Ireland.

The Addressing Bullying in Schools Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 came into effect in September 2021. The Addressing Bullying in Schools Implementation Team (ABSIT) within the Education Authority (EA) was established in September 2022 and provides support for schools, educational settings, young people and parents to help them understand the requirements of the Act. ABSIT has a focus on preventative education to embed cultures that eradicate bullying. The team also provides children, young people and parents/carers, with support to deal with specific incidents of bullying.

ABSIT’s Whole School Leadership Training offer is a comprehensive professional development programme for Safeguarding, Social, Behavioural and Emotional Wellbeing (SBEW) pastoral leads and SENCOs/Learning Support Coordinators in schools. This is delivered using a blended, modular approach that has been co-developed with 140 schools and delivered to over 250 schools in the region who have participated to date.

The purpose of the leadership training is to build the confidence and ability of school leaders to align and implement an evidence-based, whole school approach to support children and young people, to address statutory requirements and embed best practice. This training includes modules on legislation, research, policy, systems/processes, assessment, preventative approaches, effective responses, stakeholder engagement and communication.

The Department and ABSIT are open to exploring best practice in other jurisdictions, including FUSE, which could complement the comprehensive, schoolwide approach ABSIT has developed through its whole school leadership training and other existing relevant provision such as the Safer Schools NI App.