Ms Martina Mannion:

The new circular was just introduced in September of this year. I apologise as our colleagues from the inspectorate who were here earlier have left but we will be able to come back to the Deputy with regard to how the inspection will be rolled out as part of the 2022 circular. I reassure the committee that the 2022 circular adds one additional component to what was the previous cohort of children supported in the 1999 circular. This component is with regard to children who have multiple and persistent need that was not catered for in the 2019 circular. We have talked about moving away from a diagnostic-led model to one where children have multiple and persistent need. In our circular, we identified what multiple and persistent need might look like in order that it is clear that one cannot say one has such a need today and is able to say to a school that one wants an exemption. As the Minister said, one has to show a protracted period of engagement and attempts to ensure that the strategies would work for the student before he or she is eligible to be considered under the additionality introduced in 2022.