Committee for Education
Minutes of Proceedings - 15 October 2025
Committee for Education - 15 October 2025.pdf (168.31 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 29 Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mr Nick Mathison MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Pat Sheehan MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Danny Baker MLA
Mrs Michelle Guy MLA
Mrs Cathy Mason MLA
Mr Gary Middleton MLA
Present via teleconference facilities:
Mr David Brooks MLA
Mr Jon Burrows MLA
Ms Cara Hunter MLA
Ms Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Thomas McConville (Clerical Officer)
The meeting commenced at 2:01pm in public session.
1. Apologies
No apologies were received.
2. Chairperson's Business
The Committee discussed a report published by the Department of Health reviewing the population health needs of children with complex medical conditions attending Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools across Northern Ireland.
Ms Hunter joined the meeting at 2:10pm
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister of Health and the Minister of Education seeking information on what action will be taken based on the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to arrange a joint meeting with the Committee for Health to take evidence from the Minister of Health and the Minister of Education how the needs of children with complex medical conditions attending SEN schools will be addressed.
The Committee noted a joint statement from The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children & Young People and the Children's Law Centre regarding their withdrawal from the Department of Education Restraint and Seclusion Task and Finish Group.
Mr Brooks joined the meeting at 2:13pm
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Education seeking an urgent update on how this work will be progressed.
The Committee noted a record of an informal meeting with the Independent Autism Reviewer, The Royal College of Speech and language Therapists and Middletown Centre for Autism.
3. Declaration of Interest
There were no declarations of interest.
4. Matters arising
Mrs Guy left the meeting at 2:17pm.
The Committee discussed rare diseases
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the Rare Diseases Partnership to an informal briefing.
Mrs Guy rejoined the meeting at 2:22pm
The Committee discussed the debate on the Final Stage of the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill and a proposed Committee Bill to address issues not considered in the final Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek a written briefing on the Committee Bill process.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister seeking a timeline for publication of uniform guidelines.
5. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of its meeting held on 8 October 2025.
6. Sir Halley Stewart Trust Research - Oral Briefing by Bytes
The Committee noted a briefing paper and report on Local Empowerment.
The following witnesses joined the meeting at 2:36pm.
Mr Stephen Dallas, Chief Executive Officer, The Bytes Project
Mr Steve Morrison, Chief Executive Officer, Streetbeat
Sean McMullan, Youth Representative, New Lodge Youth Centre
Ms Ruth Walker, Research Lead, The Bytes Project
The witnesses provided the Committee with a briefing on the report on Local Empowerment.
This was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the report and briefing paper to the Department of Education and the Education Authority seeking their views on the recommendations.
Agreed: the Committee agreed to schedule a briefing on Youth Work.
7. Outdoor Learning Research Paper - Oral Briefing by RAISE
The Committee noted a briefing paper on Outdoor Education.
The Committee was briefed by:
Ms Gillian Kane, Research Officer, Northern Ireland Assembly Research Office
This was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider a draft motion on the need for an outdoor education strategy for Northern Ireland.
Agreed: the Committee agreed to arrange an informal meeting with the Northern Ireland Forest School Association.
8. Strategic Review of Current SEN provision and Transformation Agenda - Oral Briefing by Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCO's)
The Committee noted a briefing paper and presentation provided by the witnesses.
The following witnesses joined the meeting at 4:05pm.
Ms Claire McGowan, SENCO, Bloomfield Primary School
Ms Anita Stewart, SENCO, Kilcooley Primary School
The witnesses provided the Committee with a briefing on the work of SENCO's.
This was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the witnesses thanking them for their briefing and seeking further information regarding administrative workload.
9. End of Session Report
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer consideration of its End of Session report to its next meeting.
10. Correspondence
10.1 The Committee noted an index of correspondence.
10.2 the Committee noted a response from the Department of Education on Linking Generations Northern Ireland's (LGNI) 'Building an Intergenerational NI' proposal.
10.4 The Committee noted correspondence from Linking Generations Northern Ireland's (LGNI) providing an update
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Education seeking:
- An update on its meeting with the organisation; and
- Information on cross departmental engagement to support the work of the organisation.
10.3 The Committee noted a response from the Minister of Education regarding transgender guidance for schools.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write again to the Minister asking what practical guidance will be issued to schools on this matter.
10.5 The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance providing a Department of Finance report which aims to assess the extent to which departmental spending supports Programme for Government priorities.
Agreed: The Committee to return to this at a future budget briefing with Department of Education officials.
10.6 The Committee noted correspondence from Ulster University providing a link to its report 'The State of Primary Science in the UK (2025)' for reference in an upcoming briefing on curriculum review.
10.7 The Committee noted correspondence raising concerns about the lack of safeguarding protocols, legislation, and regulation within the tutoring industry.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Education seeking information on the regulation of private tutoring.
10.8 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department of Education providing an update on its policy proposals for the professional body for teachers.
9. Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered its forward work programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the forward work programme as drafted.
The Committee discussed the oral briefing with the Minister of Education scheduled for 22 October.
10. Any Other Business
No other business was discussed.
12. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next Committee for Education meeting will be held on Wednesday 22 October 2025 at 2:00pm in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:27pm.
Nick Mathison MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Education
22 October 2025
