Chris Lyttle asks Kim Scott of the Education Authority (EA) how the increased demand for special school places and complexity of needs has affected special schools.

Ms Scott says "as complex needs are increasing, we need to look more designating schools that are SLD (severe learning difficulty) and indeed profound leaning difficulties as well so that we can educate moderate learning difficulties children in mainstream with support or in specialist units, as much as we can".

Image source, NI Assembly

Mr Lyttle says "increased complexity and need to adjust school designation" is "known" but he wants to know "what's taking so long to respond to it?"

Ms Scott says the EA is "responding to it". She says they are doing so on "a weekly basis in terms of how we put each individual child into school".

Paula Jordan, principal of Sperrinview Special School, says the Strategic Leadership Group is "delighted" to be under the education directorate as they had previously been under Children and Young People's Services - or CYPS.

"It felt like a bit like going back into the past, when special schools were under health instead of under education," adds Ms Jordan.

Image source, NI Assembly

"We felt as a group of principals that we should be under education the same as every other school, and we're delighted to be working under the education directorate," she says.

Mr Lyttle asks if that is a temporary or permanent move - to which Kim Scott of the Education Authority says it is a "temporary designation" - adding: "We'll see how things pan out moving forward".

Robin Newtonof the DUP jokingly adds: "It's a popular temporary change."

Next up is a briefing on special schools from the Education Authority (EA) and the strategic leadership group.

Kim Scott (below) from the EA gives a presentation on special schools provision.

She says the special schools are "recognised for their excellence".

Image source, NI Assembly

Ms Scott refers to: "The commitment and investment in individual pupil capabilities and talents, and providing these pupils with the best educational start in life."

"The EA is suitably proud of the many achievements of this sector," she adds.

Ms Scott says there are approximately 6,000 pupils enrolled in special schools.

Pupil numbers are growing and an increase in the complexity of pupil needs.

"This has a direct impact on the sizes of classes, and reduced pupil/adult ratios are required in many of these circumstances," she adds.

Image source, NI Assembly

The committee wraps up the beginning of its session by agreeing to send a written invitation to bodies involved in setting post-primary transfer tests to appear before the committee at a future date.

The members agree that while the exams are unregulated and not the responsibility of the department, they have a role in holding the bodies setting the tests to account.

Justin McNulty of the SDLP tells the committee he first raised concerns about school trips to Italy a week ago.

He says his concerns "were very real," adding that it's "not just about school pupils, but bus drivers, cleaners, cooks".

"School kids will be very likely to resist and get through the impacts of the virus, but it's what they bring home," he says.

Image source, NI Assembly

"The minister should be here, telling us what actions are being taken to save lives," says Mr McNulty.

"It is no longer acceptable for the minister to say: 'Look at the Public Health Agency website or foreign office website'."

Committee chair Chris Lyttle (below) opens the meeting and there's a discussion about coronavirus and possible delays to exams.

The members agree to write to the Education Department and the exams body CCEA "seeking information on the contingency arrangements it is making with other examining boards and exam regulators in the UK in respect of rescheduling of GCSEs and A levels".

Image source, NI Assembly

The SDLP's Daniel McCrossan says there needs to be clarity over the handling of examinations and the daily function of schools.

Mr Lyttle says the minister is due to appear at the committee next week.

He says he has received a series of queries from headteachers which cannot be answered by the Public Health Agency (PHA) or Foreign Office websites.

Our political reporter, Jayne McCormack, has been looking at the challenges facing the executive, two months on from the restoration of devolution.

From coronavirus to the renewable heat inquiry, there's been a lot going on.

Read her analysis of how things are shaping up, here.

It's the middle of the week and the sun has finally broken through the clouds at Stormont.

Coming up this morning, we'll be following the Education Committee.

Image source, Getty Images

MLAs will be getting a briefing about special schools from the Education Authority and the Strategic Leadership Group.

Then they'll hear about the Special Educational Needs Framework from departmental officials.

Join us live from 09:45.