To ask the Minister of Education, given the disrupted learning of the previous year, to detail any plans he has to allow children with special educational needs to repeat a year of school if parents request it.

In order to address any loss of face-to-face learning, there have been many interventions put in place across the system.

There is no concrete evidence base that would suggest it would be in the best educational interests of all children to repeat the educational year in a wholesale type approach. It should be noted that some evidence would suggest that repeating the school year could have a negative effect for pupils. However, it may be the right thing to do for some individual children.

There is already a process in place that can enable a child to repeat the year and that decision is taken with those who know the child best. That is done with the principal of the school, the board of governors ultimately would make the decision in conjunction with the parents. If the child has a SEN statement, it would be done in co-operation with the EA as well.