Among the many cohorts of students whose needs are not met by the educational system is that comprising those who are described as gifted children. The Centre for Talented Youth has stated that there needs to be appropriate educational challenge and that these learners need to feel valued and be surrounded by peers of equal academic achievement. The programme for Government refers to implementing a strategy to support gifted and talented students. These children are like all other children. They will experience difficulties as they go through school but their circumstances are rather unique. When those circumstances present, it becomes more difficult for these children to reach their full potential. After all, that is what we all want. These children need to be challenged in a way that will encourage them to continue to learn. Many are homeschooled by parents who are continually striving to meet the educational needs of their children.

Thank you, Deputy. The time is up.

What progress has the Government made in respect of the strategy in this regard?

I agree wholeheartedly, and have for quite some time, about the needs of gifted children and the need to have specific measures designed to support their academic and social development within schools. It can be challenging for them within the school environment, for obvious reasons, in terms of the numbers attending in a given class. There are also the difficulties that can arise for a gifted child in the context of being advanced in many of the subject areas, which gives rise to attention and a raft of other issues. I will revert to the Minister for Education in respect of the issue that the Deputy has raised in terms of the specific measures that are in place and what else can be done to support gifted children and their families.