To ask the Minister of Education to detail the procurement and tender timeline for non-statutory providers of Special Educational Needs and Disability pre-school places.

Under the Education Authority’s (EA) ‘Pathfinder Project 2023-24’ four community and voluntary sector organisations were contracted to provide specialist pre-school education places for 42 children presenting with severe learning difficulties (SLD) in the Belfast area. The Pathfinder Project was agreed for 2023/24, with opportunity for expansion should delivery of the pre-school curricular guidance be deemed effective and successful. Evaluation will be informed by findings from the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI).

Subject to positive evaluation, the EA has advised that it intends to award contracts for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) non-statutory pre-school places for the 2024/25 academic year, utilising compliant Direct Award facility as permitted under procurement regulations and under PPN 02/21 Procurement of Social and Other Specific Services.

Any longer term contracts for SEND pre-school places beyond 2024/25 will require a new procurement exercise.