Previous codes of practice on supporting additional educational needs have not worked.

That was the message from Education Minister Dr Alex Allinson after he was questioned on the findings of a consultation on provision for additional educational needs (AEN) and special educational needs (SEN) in schools.

A key theme in the responses from parents and staff was a lack of funding and support staff in schools.

When it was raised in the House of Keys last week, Dr Allinson confirmed work was underway to draw up a new AEN code.

Julie Edge (Onchan) said there already the basis for an AEN code available.

’It had clear stages and what parents could expect, and it was stage one to stage five,’ she said. ’Has the minister seen that when he is considering this and could that not just be reproduced as a starting point? We need to look at what the professionals in the field and their codes are.’

But Dr Allinson said: ’Yes, there have been codes in the past; have they worked? The answer from this survey is quite obviously not. Have they been implemented? The answer from these surveys is quite obviously not.’

He added: ’Going back to things that have failed in the past is not what this department is going to do.

’What we have done with the public consultation is actually ask those professionals who are delivering the services what they want, what they expect and what they want to provide in the future.’

More than 500 people responded to the survey, which the Department of Education, Sport and Culture says will help it to form an AEN code.

About 60% said they felt SEN provision within schools was not particularly effective at meeting children’s learning and development.

A similar percentage said increased funding, earlier intervention, training and enhanced multi-agency working would improve support.

The department says it is preparing a business case for greater funding for SEN to submit to the Treasury.

It is also devising a mental health and wellbeing strategy.

Dr Allinson told the House of Keys the department would work on the code through the summer. It will cover practices in schools, nurseries and University College Isle of Man.

Former Education Department member Lawrie Hooper (LibVannin, Ramsey) raised the issue of accountability, especially after the proposed Education Bill was ditched.

’How will parents be able to hold the department and schools to account when they fail to deliver adequate services for children with additional educational needs?’ he asked.

’This was envisaged to be covered by the education tribunal in the defunct Education Bill, which the minister said he would look to address rather quickly. Now he is telling us is going to be into the next parliamentary year before this is even going to be progressed.’

Dr Allinson pledged that the relevant articles of government would be updated.

’This, of course, will be subject to the agreement of the next administration, but I can reassure him that as soon as we get agreement on the code, as soon as we get the information out there in terms of our responsibilities and what people should be expecting, we will be putting this into the articles of government,’ he said.

’We will be actually working with all the stakeholders, particularly our excellent staff and teachers in our schools, to make sure that they provide all the services that we should be providing to these particular children and their families.’

Additional educational needs can relate to disability or health, the learning environment, family circumstances and social and emotional factors.