To ask the Minister of Education whether there are minimum specifications for Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools, including (i) specifications for the room or building; (ii) equipment available; and (iii) teacher and staff training.

Officials in my Department have prepared a Handbook for specialist provision accommodation which is currently going through the review and approval process. This Handbook will provide guidance for new school building projects. Whilst accommodation works for specialist provision classes currently being delivered in existing schools are based on this draft Handbook, you will appreciate that due to various restrictions including the age of the building, floor plans and site size, it is not always possible to deliver in line with all the Handbook’s recommended requirements.

Equipment for specialist provision classes is purchased and obtained at the discretion of the school and the SEN coordinator or specialist provision teacher. Newly established specialist provision is allocated a budget of £20,000 to purchase furniture and equipment to meet the needs of its pupils. During the statutory assessment or review process, an Occupational Therapist may recommend specific equipment for an individual pupil to support their access to the curriculum, in these circumstances the Education Authority’s (EA) Statutory Assessment and Review Service is responsible for ordering and funding the item(s).

The EA’s Specialist Setting Support Team (SSST), is a multi-service team, providing integrated support for specialist provision classes.

The SSST team provides support at pre and post set up level for new settings. A comprehensive professional learning and development programme is available, delivered both online and in person, for senior leadership, teachers, classroom assistants and parents.