To ask the Minister of Education to detail any measures currently in place to ensure that mainstream teachers and classroom assistants receive adequate support in assisting children with special educational needs who may display challenging behaviours.

All schools have a statutory responsibility within their scheme of management (The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998: Articles 3-6) for developing their own policies to promote good behaviour and discipline.

Article 6 of the 1998 Education (Northern Ireland) Order, tasks the Education Authority (EA) with preparing a statement setting out the arrangements it has made or proposes to make for the education of children with behaviour difficulties including the arrangements for the provision of advice and support to schools.

The updated Behaviour Plan for 2024-2025 highlights the EA’s arrangements in respect of supporting positive behaviours in schools, including Telephone Advice Helpline, teacher professional learning opportunities, risk management processes, relevant reporting arrangements and recording arrangements and can be found at: https://send.eani.org.uk/support-services/behaviour-support-post-primary/information-schools/support-available-schools.

A range of whole school capacity building training is available from the EA Primary and Post Primary Behaviour Support and Provisions services, which encourages schools to establish early intervention, preventative, trauma informed and nurturing approaches to support behaviours that challenge and promote a culture of positive emotional health and wellbeing.

Schools can also refer directly to the EA Primary and Post Primary Behaviour Support to request staff professional development, pupil intervention and request placement within EOTAS through the respective EOTAS Panel for the phase.