EA Range Of Supports As Pupils Get Ready To Return To School

As pupils and their families across NI prepare to return to school for another year, the Education Authority (EA) has highlighted its range of information, support and advice available through their website and social media channels.

This covers a range of areas, including school transport, free school meals, uniform grants, admissions and Special Educational Needs.

EA Chief Executive, Sara Long, said that starting school, especially for the first time, was both a very exciting and nerve-racking time.

Ms Long said: "We also know that planning for a new school year can be a stressful time for parents/guardians, so we want to remind you that the Education Authority is here to help support you.

"We have set up a number of dedicated helplines and there is a range of information, including Frequently Asked Question's (FAQ's), on our website to help ensure that any queries you may have are addressed quickly."

The EA Chief Executive also said that there had been extensive work over the past number of months, working closely with schools, parents/guardians and our educational partners to support the restart of education and to welcome children and young people back to school.

Ms Long continued: "Our 43,500 workforce of teachers, teaching assistants, cleaners, bus drivers, planners, youth workers and many more have been busy getting ready to support children, young people and their families get off to the very best start.

"Some of the ways we are doing this include:

• Getting ready to transport 86,000 pupils and Further Education students to school and college every day – that's the equivalent of filling Croke Park or Wembley Stadium – and to do this we run the 2nd largest bus fleet in Northern Ireland.

• Investing £21 million in Special Educational Needs which means additional classes, teachers and classroom assistants.

• Ensuring 103,000 young people have access to free school meals and 98,500 to uniform grants.

"We also continue to work very closely with the Department of Education, schools and health colleagues in line with the very latest guidance and public health advice on Covid-19 measures to keep our children and young people and staff safe."

Ms Long added: "We are incredibly proud of all of our children and young people, principals, teachers, classroom assistants and all of our staff who have continued to provide vital support day in day out in significantly challenging circumstances, over the last 18 months.

"Working together, we continue to strive to inspire, support and challenge our children and young people to be the best that they can be and help support our workforce and our school communities to operate safely and successfully."