Committee for Education

Minutes of Proceedings - Wednesday 8 October 2025

Committee for Education - 08 October 2025.pdf (166.56 kb)

Room 29 Parliament Buildings

Present:

Nick Mathison MLA (Chairperson)

Danny Baker MLA

David Brooks MLA

Michelle Guy MLA

Cathy Mason MLA

Gary Middleton MLA

Present by Video or Teleconference:

Cara Hunter MLA

Jon Burrows MLA

In Attendance:

Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)

Gareth Black (Assistant Clerk)

Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)

Thomas McConville (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:

Pat Sheehan MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

The meeting commenced at 2:01pm in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies were received from Pat Sheehan.

2. Chairperson's Business

2.1 Strategic Review of Current SEN provision and Transformation agenda - Final Draft Terms of Reference.

The Committee considered an amended draft of the Terms of Reference for its SEN review.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the draft of the Terms of Reference.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to circulate the agreed Terms of Reference to stakeholders.

3. Declaration of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

4. Matters arising

4.1 Storm Amy correspondence from Jon Burrows

The Committee discussed correspondence from Jon Burrows MLA in relation to the Education Authority's (EA) communication with schools in response to Storm Amy.

Members welcomed notice from the Education Minister that a review of communication between EA and schools will be conducted in order to learn lessons.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the findings of the Education Minister's review when available.

4.2 Proposal that the Committee carry out exploratory policy work with Bill Office on Committee sponsored School Uniforms (Amendment) Bill (while waiting for guidelines)

Cathy Mason raised the matter of Committee amendments to the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill which were rejected by the Speaker, and a discussion was held regarding next steps.

Cathy Mason proposed that the Committee consider a Committee Bill to address some of the gaps that will exist in legislation due to the rejected amendments. Cara Hunter seconded this proposal.

David Brooks expressed that he was content with the Bill as it currently stands.

The Chairperson highlighted pressures on the Committee's capacity due to its current workload, as well as that the Committee had not yet has an opportunity to consider the guidelines for schools to support the implementation of the Bill following Royal Assent.

Proposed: Danny Baker proposed that the Committee engage with the Bill Office to conduct preparatory work on a potential Committee Bill as the Committee awaits the guidelines.

The question was put that the Committee carry out exploratory policy work with the Bill Office on a Committee sponsored School Uniforms (Amendment) Bill (while waiting for guidelines).

The Committee divided: Ayes: 5; Noes: 3

Ayes: Nick Mathison, Danny Baker, Michelle Guy, Cathy Mason, Cara Hunter.

Noes: Jon Burrows, David Brooks, Gary Middleton.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to carry out exploratory policy work with Bill Office on Committee sponsored School Uniforms (Amendment) Bill (while waiting for guidelines).

5. Draft Minutes of Meeting on 1 October 2025

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of its meeting held on 1 October 2025.

6. SEN Review - Oral Briefing by SEN Reform NI

The Committee noted a briefing paper from SEN Reform NI.

The following witnesses joined the meeting at 2:27pm:

Dorothy Murray, Director, SEN Reform NI

Fiona Cole, Volunteer, SEN Reform NI

The witnesses provided the Committee with an oral briefing on SEN placements.

The oral evidence was followed by a question-and-answer session.

The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with follow-up audio testimony accounting the lived experiences of families impacted by SEN placements.

The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses and they left the meeting at 3:43pm.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that questions related to transportation would be logged and explored at the upcoming oral evidence session with the Education Authority on transportation.

The meeting suspended at 3:43pm.

The meeting recommenced in public session at 3:50pm with the following Members in attendance: Nick Mathison MLA (Chairperson), Danny Baker MLA, David Brooks MLA, Michelle Guy MLA, Cathy Mason MLA , Gary Middleton MLA, Cara Hunter MLA (via teleconference), Jon Burrows MLA (via teleconference).

7. GTCNI Legislation - Oral Briefing by DE Officials

The Committee noted a briefing paper from the Department of Education on a Bill for the Reform of the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI).

The following witnesses joined the meeting at 3:50pm:

Mark Bailey, Director of Education Workforce, Department of Education

Alan Boyd, Head of Teacher Education Team, Department of Education

The witnesses provided the Committee with a pre-legislative oral briefing on GTCNI legislation.

The oral evidence was followed by a question-and-answer session.

The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with the update video sent to GCTNI members this week.

The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses and they left the meeting at 4:31pm.

8. End of Session Report

Agreed: The Committee agreed that as this item was subject to final checks it would be rescheduled for a future meeting.

9. Correspondence

Agreed: The Committee agreed to move into closed session to consider a number of items of correspondence.

The meeting moved into closed session at 4:33pm.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek legaladvice in relation to an item of correspondence (item 9.3) from an individual regarding the handling by education personnel of several issues that eventuated in a recent court decision.

Danny Baker left the meeting at 4:48pm.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule an informal meeting between an individual organisation and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY) regarding their correspondence at item 9.10.

9.1 The Committee noted an index of correspondence.

9.2 The Committee noted a Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Forty-fifth Report.

9.3 Discussed in closed session, as above.

9.4 The Committee noted correspondence from an individual regarding subjects covered by the bursary announced by the Education Minister for PGCE students.

Agreed: To respond to the individual, indicating the action that the Committee has taken on this matter.

9.5 The Committee noted correspondence from an individual regarding subjects covered by the bursary announced by the Education Minister for PGCE students.

Agreed: To respond to the individual, indicating the action that the Committee has taken on this matter.

9.6 The Committee noted correspondence from North West Counselling providing further information regarding its request to brief the Committee on the need to introduce a counselling programme for primary schools, similar to the Healthy Happy Minds (HHM) programme.

Agreed: To schedule a briefing with the Department of Education on emotional health and wellbeing framework, early intervention, and lack of mental health provision in primary schools.

9.7 The Committee noted a Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Forty-sixth Report.

9.8 Response from Minister Givan regarding School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill/NIPSO correspondence.

Agreed: To forward the response to NIPSO and lay the response as a Ministerial Assurance in the NI Assembly library.

9.9 The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance regarding the October Monitoring Round.

9.10 Discussed in closed session, as above.

Cara Hunter left the meeting at 16:59pm.

9.11 The Committee noted correspondence from the Women's Support Network, the NI Anti-Poverty Network, Save the Children NI and Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick at Ulster University highlighting DE aspects of its qualitative work on the anti-poverty strategy.

Agreed: To invite the correspondents to brief the Committee on its underachievement and deprivation strategic priority work.

9.12 The Committee noted a response from DE Response regarding AFPB.

9.13 The Committee noted an invitation from Caleb's Cause to an upcoming event.

9.14 The Committee noted an invitation from the Joseph Roundtree Foundation to an event on 17 October.

9.15 The Committee noted a response from DE regarding SEN Placements.

Several members expressed that they were not happy with the response from DE.

10. Forward Work Programme

The Committee considered its forward work programme.

Michelle Guy left the meeting at 17:06pm.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the forward work programme as drafted.

11. Any Other Business

There was no other business.

12. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

The next Committee for Education meeting will be held on Wednesday 15 October 2025 at 2:00pm in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:08pm.

Nick Mathison MLA

Chairperson, Committee for Education

15 October 2025