To ask the Minister of Education to outline whether his Department will consider funding accredited online schools for children of compulsory school age who cannot attend the traditional school setting, given (i) the growing demand for Education Otherwise Than at School and (ii) the shortage of available places.

The Department recognises the challenges many young people face to remain engaged in formal education, particularly in terms of social, emotional, behavioural and wellbeing issues which can make sustaining a place in a mainstream school setting difficult.

Education Otherwise Than at School (EOTAS) is an educational provision for young people with social, emotional, behavioural or other difficulties who cannot sustain a place in a mainstream school setting and who, without significant levels of support, will struggle to remain engaged in formal education. It ensures that they can continue to access learning until they are either able to return to mainstream or until they reach compulsory school leaving age.

The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998, Article 86 (1) requires the EA make arrangements for the provision of suitable education for those children of compulsory school age who, by reason of illness, or otherwise, cannot attend school.

While the department does not currently fund online schools for children of compulsory school age, officials are keen to explore the provision of alternative education provision more broadly through the recently announced RAISE Cross- Cutting Initiative “Alternative Education Models Pilot”.