Michelle Guy
Lagan Valley · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“It can be seen from those quotes that the issue impacts on girls in a real and practical way. If they feel too uncomfortable to be in school, it is impacting on their access to education. If they hold back in PE or while playing at break or lunch, what does that say to them about how we value exercise and sport?”
“Essentially, he was saying that we had to draw the line somewhere, and the automatic right of girls to be allowed to wear trousers is where that line has been drawn. <BR /> <BR />Some will play down the issue and say that it is relevant in only a small number of schools.”
“When I explain what the legislation would do, the reaction from people is almost always the same. They ask, "Are you seriously saying that, in 2026, girls can't wear trousers in school?". The answer is that they do not have that right.”
“The Assembly should support the Bill. I again ask the Minister to save us time by simply updating the statutory uniform guidelines. I find the DUP position of enabling the Bill to progress to Committee Stage while its Minister is against it to be quite bizarre.”
“<BR /> <BR />I question why that basic request from girls and young women is being denied or is deemed to be unimportant. Ultimately, it comes down to the fact that some people — mainly men — still want to control what women wear.”
“I take the Member's point. Ultimately, however, the person who could make the change is the Minister, and he has decided not to. Saying that schools have a choice or that they have autonomy does not absolve the Minister from his ultimately having responsibility to be able to make that change.”
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“Those points illustrate a much bigger crisis than simply placements, so much so that we are having an inquiry in the Education Committee into SEN provision. <BR /> <BR />Behind every statistic is a child and a family left living with the stress, uncertainty and injustice of their child not receiving the education to which they are entitled. To quote the independent autism reviewer, Ema Cubitt:”
“I cannot give you a figure for them because the Education Authority (EA) does not capture that data. We also have 2,500 children going through the statementing process who need support. There are also issues with transport related to safeguarding concerns, with escorts not having completed AccessNI checks. As the two amendments highlight, there are acute concerns around workforce, particularly classroom assistants, with a concern that the Department may restrict one-to-one support. We have seen nursing support withdrawn from some special school settings. We do not have enough special schools in Northern Ireland, and those that we do have are having to support children with ever more challenging needs. The transition between stages of education is woefully under-resourced, leaving children without suitable options post-16 and post-19.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I am proud that our first motion after recess focuses on children with special educational needs. That group of children and their families feel largely invisible and forgotten until the annual SEND crisis placement comes around. Placements are an acute issue that is worthy of our time and scrutiny. We are now a week into September, and the fact that we still have children who are without a school place, or who are unable to access their place, is a scandal. It is a consequence of a failure to plan properly for those children. <BR /> <BR />It is so important today that we understand the full extent of the crisis in SEND. There is a hidden group of children who are absent, on reduced timetables or informally excluded for reasons related to the school environment.”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for her response, and I echo her comments about those awful tragedies. <BR /> <BR />Does the deputy First Minister regard online safety for our children and young people as a priority? If so, is the online safety strategy and action plan that we have at the moment good enough?”
“First Minister, you have already acknowledged the appalling murder of Sarah Montgomery, and I join others in expressing condolences to her family and loved ones. Her murder has again brought into sharp focus the issue of violence by men against women in Northern Ireland. Will the First Minister provide an update on the commissioning of research to identify evidence gaps in the understanding of the attitudes and behaviours of men and boys towards violence against women and girls?”
“We will continue to ask questions and do what we can to support our SEN families, but they are failed, too often, and it cannot go on.”
“Arguably, the bigger failure becomes more obvious when you try to probe how many of those children with an allocated place will have a physical classroom to attend in September. We know that, in October 2024, 139 children were still waiting to access their allocated place due to building works. Then we get into the issue of the appropriateness of the places that are allocated. At the Education Committee, we have heard evidence from school leaders who have stepped up to take on specialist provision but have not been supported adequately to give those children an equitable education experience relative to their peers. In some instances, they have told us that the best that they can do is to keep them safe in school. No wonder schools are reluctant to step forward in that context.”
“It undermined the important issue that we were there to debate and sent a message to the children without a place that they are not worth his time. <BR /> <BR />The number of children not allocated a place is only one part of the scandal.”
“It is a disgrace, and it has been allowed to happen not because schools have not stepped up but because the education leadership has prioritised other things. We are now watching a last-minute scramble to get a handle on the issue, with suggestions being made that the Minister will force schools to comply. Imagine being the child who is told that they have a place in a school that does not want them. <BR /> <BR />The Education Minister is not shy about coming to the Chamber to trumpet and announce the things for which he wants applause. Real leaders, however, step up and take responsibility when there is a crisis. They do not simply look for someone else to blame. Tacking on a statement to the end of another SEN-related debate on restrictive practices — another issue that the Minister has not delivered on — is contemptible.”
“The shortest speaking slot that we are generally allocated in the Chamber is three minutes. That is how long the Minister of Education gave to address special educational needs (SEN) placements in the Chamber yesterday. Last week, we all wondered where the Minister was on the issue: it turns out that he was in Florida. What message does that send to the children and families who face an uncertain summer waiting for a school place? <BR /> <BR />The Minister and the Education Authority (EA) have done all that they can to frame the issue as the fault of schools, but the responsibility for planning and allocation of resources lies absolutely with the Minister, his Department and the EA. The fact that we still have over 100 children without an allocated place on 1 July is a crisis.”
“As I wrap up, I want to bring this back to Harry and his mum, Deirdre, who has provided me with closing remarks:”
“It goes on to commit to collaborate with the Department and others to provide a safe school environment in which the human rights of everyone in the school community are respected and avoidable harm liability is not a concern. <BR /> <BR />There is no suggestion that a teacher cannot use appropriate restrictive practices when a child or staff member is at risk. Rachel Hogan from the Children's Law Centre, a trained barrister and expert in the area, could not have been clearer in her evidence to the Education Committee, saying:”
“<BR /> <BR />Making children and young people the focus of the debate does not mean that we seek to diminish the necessity of protecting our teachers and support staff. Let me be clear: no one is advocating an approach that would put teachers at risk; quite the opposite. It is about giving them clarity, through statutory guidance, and appropriate training. From speaking to special school leaders, I know that they want that clarity. A letter submitted to the Committee by the special schools' strategic leadership group expressly welcomes the repeal of article 4(1)(c) and looks forward to the publication of new guidance.”
“<BR /> <BR />We have a comprehensive and persuasive body of evidence from trusted sources, including the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, the Children's Law Centre and special school leaders as well as powerful testimony from parents, which all points in the same direction. Minister, why are you not decisive on the issue? Since the restoration of the Executive after two years in which there was no devolved government, you appear to have been disregarding the clear direction of travel that was set by the previous DUP Education Minister, Michelle McIlveen, who wrote to schools, committing to the repeal of article 4(1)(c) and the delivery of statutory guidance on restrictive practices. I hope that we get clarity on the direction of travel of your Department.”
“We need assurance that the new education framework will be compatible with the 'Three Steps to Positive Practice' framework document that has been adopted by health professionals, who frequently work in our schools and deal with the same children. The Minister needs to restore confidence in the process, given that one key stakeholder, the RCN, opted to leave the task and finish group rather than be associated with the emerging guidance. The RCN painted a picture, corroborated by others, of tension between Health and Education officials, with the attitude among Education officials of not wanting to be told what to do by Health officials actively impeding progress.”
“A key reason for tabling the motion was to hear directly from the Minister of Education. We urgently need clarity from him on whether he will, at the earliest opportunity, repeal article 4(1)(c), which, to use the words of the independent autism reviewer, is not only overdue but essential.”
“Restrictive practices in education settings is an issue that, all of us on the Education Committee agree, needs to be resolved. Our motion acknowledges the campaigning of parents and the efforts of officials from the Department of Education and the Department of Health to deliver. We are concerned, however, that progress and momentum — progress and momentum driven by the campaign for Harry's law, which my party and I endorse — from the previous mandate have stalled in this mandate. <BR /> <BR />I have spoken to Deirdre Shakespeare about the suffering of her son Harry, which resulted from deeply damaging restrictive practices. Harry's case and the experiences of other children like him must be at the front of our minds during the debate. Our responsibility as a Committee is to be their voice.”
“Minister, will you clarify whether you believe that being drawn out of a hat is an appropriate method of allocating future intermediate rent properties?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Will he provide an update on actions to address poor water quality across Northern Ireland?”
“Minister, what are the reasons for the delay in delivering the requirements of the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022?”
“Therefore, I voice my support for the Ladies with Letters campaign to have a statutory public inquiry into the scandal that happened in the Southern Trust, which impacted on 17,000 women. There were 11 women with precancerous cells, eight with cancer and two who died. That should not be minimised in view of the extent of the scandal and the impact that it has had on those women and their families. We await the outcome from the Health Minister. I emphasise again that I support the call for a statutory public inquiry. I hope that the matter is resolved soon so that those women can move on to the next stage of their campaign and we can bring some accountability to the situation.”
“I rise to highlight the fact that this is still Cervical Screening Awareness Week, and I encourage every woman or person who receives an invitation for cervical screening to attend that appointment. I took the difficult decision last week to speak of my experience of cervical cancer, so I emphasise again just how important it is for people to attend those appointments. It might literally save your life. The procedures are quick, painless —mostly — and professionally handled. I understand that people will be hesitant about attending the appointments, but I stress again how important it is that they take up that opportunity. <BR /> <BR />I am aware also that there are concerns about the cervical screening programme. That is understandable in the light of the scandal in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.”
“Thank you, Minister, for your statement. The reason that we are here today is Caleb's Cause. The statement simply does not deliver on Caleb's Cause. Alma has been crystal clear that the provision has to deliver for all. <BR /> <BR />The Minister confirmed that she supports people with special educational needs having a legal right to an appropriate pathway, be it in an Education or Health setting. Has she confirmed with the Education and Health Ministers whether they support the introduction of legislation? If she has not had those conversations yet, why not?”
“Thank you, Minister. What tangible actions can the Finance Department take to mitigate some of the impacts on local businesses identified by the report?”
“Only 8% of primary-school pupils and 20% of post-primary-school pupils receive the recommended 120 minutes of PE a week. What difference will the curriculum-led capital investment programme have on those figures?”
“Will the Minister give a sense of how long the Belfast Trust will be on level 5 special measures?”
“I thank the Minister for that. Will the Minister commit to establishing an NI physical activity inclusion fund to support targeted, co-designed interventions for children and young people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds?”
“Thank you, Minister, for that really encouraging response. What more can the Executive do to move faster on climate action?”
“I thank the Minister for that response. Will the Minister provide an update on the nutrients action programme consultation?”
“I absolutely recognise that characterisation of the school. Moira Primary School was one of the first primary schools that I visited when I got into this role and it could not have made me feel more welcome. Mr Ford was absolutely bursting with energy and enthusiasm for his school. Actually, he explained to me what the school was doing to create the kind of school community that is represented in that quotation. Huge congratulations to the whole school community. It takes a whole team to come together to deliver that kind of success. I hope that they enjoy their moment, and congratulations to everyone.”
“was given an award for best primary school. The judges said of the school, and this is a quote that the school put on its website when announcing its news:”
“I wish to express my congratulations to Moira Primary School, which, at the Local Women Magazine Education Awards at the weekend,”
“It is the real-world message that drivers have to get. I support Departments working together to achieve that. <BR /> <BR />I close by thanking the families who have come here today and laid bare the unimaginable pain and trauma that they have experienced in order to fight for change. You have already prompted some action from the Minister today, and I hope that that provides some small measure of comfort in your grief.”
“Largely, we have agreement across the Chamber on the issue, but, following the recent, tragic loss of young Caitlin-Rose McMullan, we are not just persuaded by the logic of the call in the motion and the amendments; we are moved by it. <BR /> <BR />The messaging of the Department's recent campaign states that children are more at risk around a bus than when travelling on it. What does that mean for those of us who are drivers as we wait for legislation? It means this: if you are driving near a school bus, you are no longer in a hurry — you stop. Wherever you have to be, whatever pressure you are under, it is not more important than a child's safety. Slowing down to let those kids get safely off the bus may cost you minutes, but better that than the cost of a child's life. That is not hyperbole.”
“I worked with one school in particular to get a simple path that would make getting to school safer for pupils. It would also tick the active travel box, would encourage more parents to use public transport — it would connect to a park-and-ride — and would not cost the earth to deliver, yet progress has been excruciatingly slow. Minister, your Department has to find ways to make common-sense road safety decisions such as that more easily, more quickly and with more agility. <BR /> <BR />The 20 mph initiative at some schools has had a positive effect, but the call in the UUP amendment to look at some specific infrastructure and road layout suggestions feels like a good one to explore, especially in rural areas.”
“Since becoming an elected politician, I, like others, have spent a huge amount of time lobbying for road safety in our communities and at schools. Trying to get things done in that space is frustratingly slow, and I am always left asking the question, "Why do we seemingly have to wait for a tragedy before action is taken?". The Minister has reacted and announced some welcome legislation today in relation to overtaking school buses. I urge her not to let up and to ensure that the sustained investment that, evidence shows us, is needed to stay on top of road safety happens. <BR /> <BR />Our schools are proactive on road safety, and it is integrated into the curriculum at primary and post-primary levels, but they are also proactive in identifying risks at their schools and lobbying for interventions to mitigate them. Here, we have an issue.”
“Will the Minister outline the safeguards in the proposals to protect victims and witnesses and prevent undue prejudice?”
“I join others in wishing you a happy birthday, Mr Speaker. I am sure that there is nowhere that you would rather be. <BR /> <BR />The implementation of voting rights in Irish presidential elections is a matter for the Government of Ireland, not the Assembly, but, on a point of fact, can the First Minister confirm that the motion passed by the convention was for voting rights for all Irish citizens, with no specific requirement for them to be resident on the island of Ireland and that that would bring those elections into line with common practice in the EU and elsewhere?”
“Does the Minister envision those plans complementing the multi-year Budget that the Executive hope to set from next year onwards?”
“Surely we cannot combine informal forms of childcare with paid childcare, as such data would not reflect the actual cost that parents face. All that families ask for is to be heard and for the actual costs that they face per day of childcare and how that adds up week on week, month on month, to be shown. I hope that clarity will be provided and that the true cost of paid childcare is acknowledged in policymaking.”
“On the average monthly costs of childcare per child, the survey results state:”
“That is crucial to early learning and is especially important for children facing educational disadvantage. <BR /> <BR />The £55 million from the Executive is hugely welcome after decades of underinvestment. However, we still await the much-delayed early learning and childcare strategy, which is crucial to securing long-term transformational change for children and families. The strategy needs to be informed by the huge amount of research that has been done over the years, and it needs to reflect the true experience of families and parents. Parents have concerns about the recent Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) childcare survey. They are not questioning how the survey was carried out; they are concerned about how the information has been presented.”
“While the announcement does not increase the 15% subsidy rate, which needs to happen, it will expand the number of families who can avail themselves of support and will further help those with multiple children. It is also really positive that programmes such as Sure Start will continue to receive some additional funds to help with increasing costs. I have seen at first hand the impact of Sure Start in my constituency of Lagan Valley. I also hope that the committed money for the Pathway fund gets to providers that applied swiftly. Providers have been placed in incredibly difficult circumstances, with some staff having been placed on protected notice. Of course, I welcome the further investment to support preschools that are transitioning to offer full-time hours.”
“I stand to speak about the recent announcement of how the £55 million allocated to early years and childcare will be spent this year. I welcome much of the funding announcement. Having spent a great deal of time with providers, parents and bodies from the sector, I know that they want us to work constructively on the issues for families. We have said since the introduction of the childcare subsidy scheme that it needed to be built on. In fact, the very first question that I asked in the Chamber was whether support for families would be expanded to school-age children, so it is positive that the Education Minister has listened to those calls and extended the scheme to include children of primary-school age. <BR /> <BR />The cost of childcare continues to be a major concern for so many families.”
“Just because we are in our current position does not mean that harm to children is inevitable and something that we simply have to live with. This is something that we need to proactively work to end.”
“This goes much further than an Education or Justice approach, even though they are key partners. We have an online safety strategy, which is led by the Department of Health and is due to end this year. We need to be clear and honest about what that five-year strategy has achieved and what will happen next. At the most basic level, we need to discuss the issue more, because it is one of the most important issues that legislators face. These technologies, like others that are widespread, may be here to stay, but that does not mean that companies do not have responsibilities to our children and young people that, if broken, should result in heavy fines. Nor does it not mean that those technologies do not need to be heavily mandated and limited when they are being used by children and young people.”
“<BR /> <BR />Although the key matters of social media regulation and online safety are reserved, the Executive need to outline the evidence-based actions that they believe are best for our children and young people. I know, for example, that the Justice Department has engaged with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Ofcom on the implementation and regulation of the Online Safety Act 2023 to ensure that tech firms take more responsibility for managing their platform's content and protect children from illegal harm. We need to speak with one voice to the UK Government, who have so far been happy to water down legislation that could better protect our children and hold to account social media companies that are making billions. <BR /> <BR />What direct actions can we take?”
“Thank you to the Member. I agree with what he said, and I will address that in my remarks. Absolutely, those companies have been allowed to expand at a rapid pace, and it has negatively affected our kids. The Governments definitely need to do more in that regard. <BR /> <BR />We should not be surprised that nearly 25% of children and young people use their smartphone in a way that is consistent with a behavioural addiction. We are content to support the motion and are content with the amendments in principle but reserve our concerns about the method adopted by the Minister's pilot, which feels like an excessive level of expenditure on a novel solution when other options can achieve the same results. However, the important message today is that we are together on the issue.”
“<BR /> <BR />Change is easier said than done, given how embedded the technologies are in our lives and the wealth and power of the companies behind social media platforms and smartphones. One thing that we know for sure is that the companies at the forefront of the technologies do not exist to build community or the confidence of our young people. They exist not to improve people's well-being or to facilitate genuine conversations but to make profit. They do that by keeping people on phones and platforms for as long as possible so that data is used and advertising sold. It is a business model.”
“and need to be significantly rebalanced for older children. Harms that I have been told about at recent meetings include evidence from an early years provider who spoke of children requiring physiotherapy because they had not developed basic physical movements owing to the number of hours spent on a device and from a post-primary school where staff had realised that, after mobile phones had been banned from their classrooms, none of the children could tell the time on a physical clock face. There are, however, more extreme harms, including exposure to violent content, pornography, grooming, sexual exploitation, online bullying and misinformation that impacts on children's development and more. The pace of change has come so quickly that it has caught us off guard as a society, so rebalancing things is required.”