To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) the expansion options considered in Coleraine so all nursery pupils with special educational needs can be given a place at a school in the town for the academic year 2021/22; and (ii) what plans will be put in place to accommodate increased numbers of nursery pupils with special educational needs in Coleraine for the academic year 2022/23.

There are no actions in the current area plan in relation to the expansion of nursery provision in Coleraine. The Education Authority’s (EA) Pre-School Education Group (PEG) is responsible for securing sufficient mainstream pre-school education provision in local areas to meet demand for target-age children. The EA has advised that there is currently sufficient provision to meet demand in the Coleraine area, with 340 funded pre-school places available and with 268 first preference applications received.

Any request for new or additional statutory pre-school education provision would require the publication of a Development Proposal, in line with the relevant statutory processes. The EA is currently consulting on two draft Area Planning Frameworks, which are open until 12 April 2021 and aim to provide a consistent regional approach to provision and which will help to inform future Area Planning priorities.