To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) whether he has had any discussions with the Minister of Health in relation to the transition of those with special educational needs, post-18 years old; and (ii) the setting in which they can continue to be supported in education and skills.

(i) A ‘Transitions Working Group’, jointly chaired by officials from my department and the Department of Health (DoH), has been established and is supported by representatives from the Education Authority (EA), the Public Health Agency (PHA) and officials from the Departments for the Communities (DfC) and the Economy (DfE).

The aim of the working group is to evaluate current transitions processes and practices, with the aim of identifying improvements to create better ways of working and sharing of information to ensure that there are clear and appropriate pathways to provisions for young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) or disabilities across further and higher education, training and employment.

I will continue to work closely with the Minister of Health and other Executive colleagues as this work progresses.

(ii) Currently young people with statements of SEN have access to a number of settings in which they can continue to be supported in education and skills, and this will be agreed as part of their transitions plan. Options will include the EA continuing to maintain a statement of SEN, where there has been one in place, naming a school; progression to a further or higher education setting; a place within a training programme that focuses on fostering independence, social inclusion or skill-building, or directly into employment.