To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 13705/17-22, (i) whether the needs of pupils in special schools differ greatly from those of pupils in special units attached to mainstream schools; (ii) for his assessment of the differing provision of education being provided to pupils in these two different settings; and (iii) for his assessment of whether this could have an impact on their development.

In the majority, the needs of pupils in special schools differ from those of pupils in specialist classes attached to mainstream schools.

Children and young people attending a special school, in the most part, present with very significant intellectual or cognitive impairments and will additionally have other complexities of need which may include medical or behavioural barriers. These children and young people require extremely high pupil to staff ratios and are likely to need a high degree of support from medical teams and/or allied health professionals.

Those children and young people who are enrolled in specialist classes attached to mainstream schools have been assessed as needing a small group setting with fewer pupils and a higher level of adult support, and which also allows for opportunities for individualised teaching. Such settings allow a child or young person to participate within the wider school community, where they are able to do so, and subsequently, where appropriate, gradually reintegrate into a mainstream setting as barriers to learning are addressed.

There exists a continuum of provision to meet a continuum of need. Children are placed in the most appropriate setting to meet their assessed needs with the consent of those who have parental responsibility.