AQW 47204/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education

To ask the Minister of Education to detail how the workload of special educational needs coordinators is measured and tracked.

Asked by Michelle Guy MLA on 27 May 2026

  • Answered
  • Written
Tabled
27 May 2026
Answer due by
11 June 2026
Answered
2 June 20266 days after tabling
Department
Department of Education
Priority question
No

Answer

The Education Authority (EA) has advised that:

The workload of Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCos) is not centrally measured or tracked by the EA.

Responsibility for monitoring and managing workload rests with individual schools, reflecting the fact that each school operates within a unique context, including differing pupil needs, staffing structures, and demographic profiles. Schools are required to adhere to the statutory Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice, which sets out their responsibilities in identifying, assessing, and supporting pupils with SEN. Within this framework, it is for school leadership teams to determine how SENCo responsibilities are organised and how workload is distributed and reviewed.

Official sources