The NI Science Festival is set to return next month after revealing its seventh annual programme boasting more than 80 online public events. The STEM celebration will return for a fortnight of wonder and intrigue from Monday 15 – Sunday 28 February.Covering everything from the natural world, our planet, and theRead More →
The single AQE transfer test planned for Saturday 27 February has now been cancelled. In a statement the AQE board said: “Due to the ongoing uncertainty about the potential for an extended period of lockdown, the Board of AQE Limited has decided to recommend to our grammar schools, the membershipRead More →
Health Minister Robin Swann has approved funding for the development of a new specialist perinatal mental health services for the region. The Minister said: “I am delighted to announce the approved funding to establish a new specialist perinatal mental health community service model for Northern Ireland.” At present, mental healthRead More →
Education Minister Peter Weir has outlined the significant investment of £7million that has been provided this year to support remote learning. The Minister welcomed that to date, up to 24,000 devices have been made available to support pupils to engage with remote learning, with up to 10,000 further devices beingRead More →
The Education Minister has said pre-school education settings, primary and post primary schools will be required to provide remote learning to pupils until the half term break in mid-February. Special schools will remain open as usual. The Executive will be keeping the position under review. Vulnerable children and children of keyRead More →
New proposals have been announced today (Tuesday 5 January) to provide financial assistance for Covid-19 related closures in the childcare sector between September and December last year. Education Minister, Peter Weir outlined the plans following the allocation of a total of £3.64 million for childcare providers who have temporarily closedRead More →
Education Minister Peter Weir has announced revised plans for schools reopening after the Christmas break. This follows recent advice on the current situation of the epidemic, levels of transmission and numbers of cases. From next Monday (4 January): Primary school pupils will be taught remotely until 11 January, after which theyRead More →
Education Minister Peter Weir today made a statement to the Ad Hoc Committee of the Assembly on the resumption of schools following the Christmas break and potential further actions to be taken within the education sector to limit the transmission of the Covid-19 virus. In the statement he said: “Myself,Read More →
The Executive has taken the difficult decision to limit the arrangements for people to come together over Christmas. Christmas bubbling will now be reduced to one day only on a date between 23 and 27 December, to ensure flexibility for those working on Christmas Day to choose an alternative dayRead More →
Education Minister, Peter Weir, today (Friday 18 December) said that all schools and other education settings will reopen in the first week of January and said that he would prefer children to be able sit the transfer test in their own primary school setting. The Minister said: “My main priority has always beenRead More →
Health Minister Robin Swann has welcomed the NI Executive’s agreement to introduce a series of Covid-19 restrictions from 00:01 on December 26, 2020. The restrictions will be in place for six weeks, subject to review at four weeks. The Health Minister will be making an oral statement to the Assembly on Monday setting outRead More →
The four UK Children’s Commissioners are calling on the UK Government and its devolved governments to address the systemic disadvantages facing children and young people across the nations. In a joint report to the UN, the Commissioners conclude that the Covid-19 pandemic has amplified the systemic disadvantages faced by thousandsRead More →