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  • Children and Young People Issues

    Working together to improve the well-being of all children and young people in Northern Ireland. 

    contents

    Children and Young People

    • Update: October 2024
    • Public Appointment Opportunity to the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment Council (CCEA)
    • More time to apply to be a Chairperson of the Board of the Education Authority (EA)

    Outcome of Consultation: School Uniform Policy

    The consultation on School Uniform Policy ran from 20 June 2024 to 27 September 2024 and sought views on making it a legal requirement for schools to follow the Departmental guidance on school uniforms.

    Rural Needs Impact Assessments

    Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016

    YOUNG PEOPLE’S REFERENCE GROUP (YPRG) - January 2025

    The Young Person’s Reference Group (YPRG) have planned and delivered 60 different consultation sessions to date in a wide range of settings with children and young people through Northern Ireland, consulting with 600+ individuals. The Young Person’s Reference group are finalising the information they have gathered and putting this into recommendations to be considered for the future youth work policy. Additionally, the Young Persons Reference Group are working on using the lived experience and voice of children and young people, to inform what the vision, purpose and role of youth work should be going forward.

    End to End Review of Special Educational Needs (SEN)

    The End to End Review of SEN has now concluded and on 13 January 2025, the Minister announced his programme for reforming the provision of support for children with SEN.

    YOUNG PEOPLE’S REFERENCE GROUP (YPRG) - April 2025

    Pre-consultation workshops initially took place in youth centres with young people under sixteen, to get their input into the consultation design.

    Related to Children and Young People Issues

    Most recent publications

    • DE Circular Number 2025/01 - Approval of Qualifications for Delivery by Post-Primary Schools in Northern Ireland

      Published 15 January 2025
    • Rural Needs Impact Assessment - Review of Eligibility Criteria for FSM & UG

      Published 16 December 2024
    See all publications in this topic

    Most recent consultations

    • Vision 2030 - A Strategy for Integrated Education

      Published 27 March 2025 Closes 23 May 2025
    • School Uniform Policy Consultation

      Published 20 June 2024 Consultation closed
    See all consultations in this topic

    Most recent news items

    • Education Minister publishes SEN Reform Agenda and Delivery Plan

      Published 4 February 2025
    • Givan: Reform begins for children with special educational needs

      Published 13 January 2025
    See all news in this topic

    Access to information

    How to request information from the Department of Education including Freedom of Information (FOI) and the use of our Publication Scheme. The Department publishes responses to requests for information made under FOI in its Disclosure Log

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