A proposal to accelerate the start of the statutory assessment process for pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) has come into operation.
The first Commencement Order of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 allows the Education Authority (EA) to proceed with the statutory assessment process for pupils with SEN in 22 days - or sooner with parental consent - rather than 29 days as at present.
The aim is that the new provision will benefit children with SEN and their parents as it will go some way to reducing the length of the process, which can often be a stressful time.
Currently when the EA receives a referral for a statutory assessment, parents are notified and asked for any representations or written evidence. The parent has 29 days to respond.
Previously, even if parents responded within 29 days, the EA had to wait the full 29 days before proceeding to the next stage. Evidence gathered from the former education and library boards indicated that most parents who respond did so within 22 days.
Education minister Peter Weir said by making this order, the EA would be able to continue with the process as soon as a parental response is received rather than wait for the full response period to pass.
"This will save valuable time at the beginning of the process and is good news for parents and children," he said.
