Sinn Féin MLA Karen Mullan has welcomed the Education Authority’s introduction of transgender support guidelines for schools.

The new guidelines cover a range of issues including uniforms, naming, and the use of toilets and changing rooms.

Speaking shortly after the announcement, the party’s spokesperson for education said:

“This is a hugely positive step, which follows a comprehensive consultation process initiated in late 2018.

“There are many children in our school system who identify as transgender and these guidelines will ensure the approach our schools take in supporting and assisting these students will be consistent.

“The guidelines will provide some level of comfort for parents as well as an additional element of support for teachers in the classroom.

“I also wish to note some of the good work and the pro-active steps many schools took in the absence of guidelines up to this point.”