To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning whether his Department has given any consideration to extending Special Educational Needs Statements to 21 years of age for young people that require a longer period of time to achieve their education goals.

My Department first became aware of this matter when the Committee for Education expressed a desire to extend a young person’s statement into Further Education (FE) and Higher Education (HE) in June 2012.

As a result, officials from FE and HE Divisions met with Department of Education (DE) officials in October 2012 to discuss existing provision for young people with disabilities in FE and HE, and explore whether or not there would be merit in considering the extension of Special Educational Needs (SEN) statements up to and including age 24.

Following informal discussions with the FE and HE sectors, both indicated that they did not consider the extension of SEN statements up to and including the age of 24 to be of any added educational benefit to students. It was also considered that statements flowing from schools were unlikely to reflect an individual’s support needs as they move into adulthood and into an FE or HE environment. It was considered that the existing assessment procedures in place for both FE and HE are more appropriate and reflective of the needs, provision and support available to students enrolling in FE or HE courses. This additional support provided to students in both FE and HE is irrespective of age and extending the age range of SEN statements would not have an impact on the support students would receive.