How can we ensure that children’s early years lay firm foundations for the future? During the first five years of life children develop at a rapid rate, and their experiences during this period profoundly influence their life chances.
How well is the compulsory education system supporting demand for STEM skills in Northern Ireland?
Skills development is critical in driving economic growth, and evidence highlights the importance of STEM subjects in contributing to innovation and productivity within economies. However, demand for people with high quality STEM qualifications outstrips supply in Northern Ireland, and employers face challenges in recruiting appropriately skilled STEM workers at every level. This undersupply is particularly acute in the areas of maths, computer science, engineering and technology, in line with growth forecasts for the ICT, Professional Services and Advanced Manufacturing sectors. Women are particularly underrepresented among the STEM workforce.
Read More »Science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)
The growth of special educational needs and the implementation of new legislation point to challenges ahead.
There has been a steady increase in the prevalence of special educational needs (SEN) in Northern Ireland over the past ten years, rising from 16% of all school pupils in 2005/06 to 22% of pupils (73,435) in 2014/15.
Implementation of the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Act, together with forthcoming subordinate legislation and a revised statutory Code of Practice, present a number of challenges for the new Assembly. Under the revised approach, the number of SEN assessment stages will reduce from five to three, and it is likely that fewer children will undergo statutory assessment and receive a statement of SEN, with greater emphasis placed instead on in-school support.
Research and Information Service
Northern Ireland Assembly
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Stormont
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BT4 3XX
Phone: 028 9041 8320
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