I can confirm that my Department received an application from the school to increase the level of special needs assistant, SNA, support from part-time to full-time for the pupil concerned as he has progressed to first class and will be in attendance for the full school day. Based on the information submitted by the school, my Department's professionals concluded that the appropriate level of SNA support warranted by the pupil was a lesser allocation than that originally sanctioned.
As the Deputy will be aware, special needs assistants may be approved to support pupils who have a significant medical need for such assistance, a significant impairment of physical or sensory function or where their behaviour is such that they are a danger to themselves or other pupils. The criteria used for the assessment of the need for such support is outlined in my Department's circular 07/02.
A review of SNA provision in primary schools commenced in September 2004 and is continuing. The review is concerned with the level and deployment of SNA posts in mainstream classes. The intention is to ensure that the level of approved SNA support in schools and the manner in which that support is being allocated, are such as to ensure that the special care needs of pupils are being appropriately met. The school in question will be visited shortly as part of this review. My officials have been in contact with the school and have explained that the pupil concerned may retain the existing level of SNA support until the above review has been completed.