Supporting and Safeguarding Children

Head of Division - Dorothy Angus
Personal Secretary - Rose Howell
Personal Secretary Contact Number - Local: 028 9127 9325
International: +44 (0) 28 9127 9325
email: mail@deni.gov.uk

Divisional Responsibilities

Healthy Schools, EAL and Travellers Policy Branch

• Policy on Traveller education
• Policy on English as an additional language and sponsorship/monitoring of Inclusion and Diversity Service
• Health and well-being strategy for the education sector, healthy schools policy and Fit Futures (includes coordination of policies which lie with policy branches across the Department)
• Issues related to disability under the Special Educational Needs and Disability Order (SENDO)  

Open Enrolment and Transfer Procedure Branch

• Policy on open enrolment
• Policy on admissions criteria and transfer from primary to post primary
• Policy on admissions numbers and enrolment numbers

Pupil Support Branch

• Policy on children at risk including
  • child protection and maintenance of unsuitable persons list including input to safeguarding legislation
  • alternative education provision
  • suspensions and expulsions
  • pupil behaviour and discipline
  • bullying
  • education of looked after children
  • school aged mothers
  • young carers
  • Counselling
  • School attendance
• Pupils’ emotional health and well being
• Review of pastoral care guidance for schools
• Input to Suicide Prevention Strategy, parenting initiatives, alcohol and drugs strategies and knife awareness campaign

School Administration Branch

• School governance issues including DE Governor appointments and annual Governors’ conference
• Schemes of management
• Interface schools funding
• Exceptional closures
• Registration of independent schools
• Briefing for Ministerial school visits
• Home to school transport,
• School meals service
• Boarding and clothing allowances
• Education maintenance allowance  
• Secretarial support for Primary and Secondary Standing Conferences