To ask the Minister of Education (i) how many teachers are employed in primary schools; (ii) how many of those teachers have completed accredited autism awareness training; and (iii) how many primary school teachers currently hold up to date autism awareness training certification.

The number of teachers employed in the 2014/15 academic year in Primary schools was 8,782 and 140 in Preparatory departments.

Autism specific training for teachers, to build the capacity of schools to effectively meet the needs of children with autism, has been delivered by the Education Authority (EA) and Middletown Centre for Autism (MCA). However,

the EA and MCA have advised that they do not hold a database on teachers with accredited autism awareness training or on teachers who currently hold up-to-date autism awareness training certification.

Notes:

Information on teacher numbers is taken from the Teachers’ Payroll and Pensions Administration System and validated individually with each school on an annual basis.

The data provided refer to the 2014/15 academic year, and specifically to 24-28 November 2014.

The following types of teacher are included:

full-time (FT) permanent teachers;

part-time (PT) permanent teachers;

temporary teachers filling vacant posts, secondments or career breaks

The following teachers are excluded:

substitute teachers covering illness or other short-term absences;

peripatetic teachers;

teachers employed under the Signature Project

The figures provided are headcounts, where a part-time teacher counts the same as a full-time teacher.