We are continuing to investigate the contents of an email sent to multiple schools and businesses in the Country Antrim area today. Nothing untoward has been located - and this is not believed to be a credible threat at this time. Full details: orlo.uk/i8SyA

It's staggering that there's thought to be over £30bn of lost pensions out there. Please share this especially with people who've had multiple jobs. Lets help people reconnect with their cash.

Following further engagement involving the Education Authority, the Department of Health and the Department of Education, the Department of Health has now been able to confirm that nursing support will be made available at each special school summer scheme site. This represents a workable solution that will enable special school summer schemes to be held this year. The overriding priority of everyone concerned remains the safety and well-being of children and young people, and EA will continue to work with special school principals to urgently prioritise planning for the summer schemes. Engagement will also continue on developing and embedding a robust and stable model for year-round health care provision for special schools.

The Education Authority has set out a planned new educational reform to enhance classroom support for children with special educational needs. The changes are aimed at delivering the best possible outcomes for our children and young people. Details of the Enhanced Support Model have been provided in an EA briefing paper. It is to be introduced in a phased process over a number of years, starting later this year. Read more : ow.ly/By7G50Yi9LY

A great actor

Hamnet's director Chloe Zhao used to lead the cast and crew in group dances after a stetch of heavy filming. This from the final day of filming at The Globe is completely wonderful.

Almost 20,000 parents used the Belfast Trust Children's Symptom Checker in December. It could help you decide if your child does not have to attend our Emergency Department. @healthdpt belfasttrust.hscni.net/hospi…

🚨 Our Adult Emergency Departments are under extreme pressure. ⚠️ Please only attend an ED if your condition is life threatening, urgent or needs immediate attention. 🕗 Anyone attending with a non-urgent condition will have a very long wait to be seen.

👏 “𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀.” 📣 The Chief Executive of the Education Authority has paid tribute to everyone involved in delivering education and youth services across NI. In doing so, he has also expressed his disappointment at inaccurate narratives that portray all public services and employees as always failing. 🔗 Read more: ow.ly/wbWn50XNHt1 #EAEveryDay #WeAreEA

The Education Authority has again made clear that pupils receiving free school meals will not be affected by the increase in school meal prices next month. The Free School Meal Allowance will be increased to allow for the price uplift. This is set out in the update on our savings plans published here: ow.ly/jUOt50XGXTu

🏫EA is there every school day, in more ways than you might realise We employ over 49,300 staff working across every aspect of education. Teachers inspiring the next generation, bus drivers ensuring safe journeys, catering teams providing nutritious meals, HR teams supporting school recruitment, maintenance staff keeping buildings safe, supporting over 348,000 children and young people in schools. Behind every statistic is someone who cares about children's education in Northern Ireland. #EAEveryDay #WeAreEA

The Education Authority is today publishing an update on the savings measures it announced last month. These savings are in response to a projected funding shortfall of circa £300m for 2025-26. This update document has been provided to the NI Assembly's Education Committee. Read more: ow.ly/Gy6R50XGXTt

👏 Well done to Fivemiletown College for all the well deserved plaudits for their amazing Christmas video.

👨‍⚕️ Before attending an Emergency Department visit the Children’s Symptom Checker for advice from healthcare professionals to gain a better understanding of what might be happening and where to get treatment. 🚦 Choose Well this Winter to ensure your child gets the right care, at the right time, in the right place. 🔗 Visit the Children’s Symptom Checker: ow.ly/7sH750XCGhm

Expect this tradition to be maintained.

The claims made by Unite the Union about temporary education workers and safeguarding checks are factually inaccurate. The figures recently issued to the union in response to their FoI request related to temporary school support staff across the whole education system. In addition to classroom assistants, this included a range of other staff groups (for example admin staff, cleaners, catering staff, instrumental tutors and EA headquarters staff). Unite the Union wrongly claimed that the total relates solely to special school support staff. At best, this represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the information. The union then compared the overall system wide figure to an earlier figure, from January, relating only to special schools and falsely claimed a 200% increase. Another basic inaccuracy. Whatever the reason for this misinterpretation, it risks spreading unfounded fear among parents. To be clear, figures cited by the union in January related to 108 classroom assistants in special schools awaiting clearance. Today, that figure stands at 14. Unite has therefore presented an 87% reduction as a 200% increase. The average turnaround time for the issuing of Access NI certificate is five working days from presentation of all relevant paperwork. The number of staff employed through a temporary engagement form will constantly change. The total across the education system as of today is 173. The reality is that any large workforce will always require some temporary staff. For schools, sick leave and other problems will lead to vacancies arising unexpectedly and immediately. While we acknowledge that Trade Union colleagues are opposed to this approach, and respect their right to hold this view, it is deeply regrettable that they have misstated the underlying facts in support of their position. This helps no one. Schools are able, on a short-term emergency basis, to engage staff but must submit documents for checks on day one. Schools are required to apply strict conditions and any emergency staff awaiting clearance are not permitted to have unsupervised contact with children.

Over-60s walking football team shine at World Nations Cup irishfa.com/news/2025/novemb…

The Education Authority has announced significant savings measures to address an unprecedented financial shortfall in the region of £300m. Unlike in previous years, significant additional funding is unlikely to be made available to address the funding gap. The savings will begin to take effect from this month. Education services in NI have faced growing and increasingly unsustainable budgetary shortfalls for a number of years. For full details of the measures: ow.ly/3tr150Xn1k3