The Educational Needs Assessment threshold has been reduced to £0 for dependants of work permit holders.
The reduction means that children or dependants of work permit applicants with educational support needs that could incur any cost to the education department, will not be granted a permit. Previously, the threshold was set at £6,000, meaning any support needs costing up to £6,000 could be granted.
The decision, which was made by Executive Council earlier this year, was presented to the Education Board yesterday by Director of Education, Sarah Stannard.
The support needs in question are applicable to any additional support students may require to engage in school activity, including children with English as a second language and those with learning disabilities.
According to a paper published in the committees’ agenda outlining the decision and the process that went into it, “the costs of providing for any additional needs at this time would necessitate the recruitment of additional staff” going on to say that this is considered to incur a “substantial charge on public funds.”
A committee member commented on the reduction potentially deterring international recruitment, specifically referring to the inclusion of children with English as a second language. Miss Stannard stated that the threshold for said children is that they must be able to participate in class independently. She went on to explain the decision saying, “this is because we have run out of capacity, not because it is what we wish to do long term.”
The decision will be reviewed at ExCo in December.
