To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) any plans he has to encourage more programmes for children to engage with older people; and (ii) his assessment of any benefits of programmes already held.

The Department’s school improvement policy ‘Every School a Good School’ sets out the four key characteristics of a successful school, which include that a school is connected to its local community. Where this characteristic is well embedded, there will be good relationships that facilitate engagement and communication between a school, its parents and the wider community it serves. There are many examples of best practice throughout our school network that promote engagement between pupils and older people in the local community, such as visits to residential homes and older people volunteering within primary schools to assist pupils with their reading.

In recent years, my Department and the Education Authority have liaised with Linking Generations Northern Ireland, an organisation which has been connecting generations in communities across Northern Ireland since 2009. I am also aware that the Northern Ireland Forest School Association runs an intergenerational programme which involves partnerships between nursery and primary schools and residencies selected by Radius Housing.

Due to the financial pressures facing my Department and the need to prioritise frontline services, I am not in a position to develop or fund any new programmes at the present time. However, I recognise that there are many educational, social and community benefits associated with programmes which bring together children and older people. They play an important role in bridging the generational divide and have the potential to enrich the lives of all who participate in them.