The Shared Education & Sectoral Support Team (SESS) was established in 2018 following the restructuring of EA's Education Directorate.  The team comprises a Head of Service and five School Improvement Professionals (SIP) and supports EA’s delivery of the statutory duties in respect of Shared, Integrated, and Irish Medium Education.  It also has a role in providing support for the implementation of the CRED (Community Relations, Equality and Diversity) Policy within schools.  

The dedicated SIP for Integrated Education is Frances Donnelly. Please contact frances.donnelly@eani.org.uk regarding any aspect of EA’s support for Integrated Education.

In undertaking its work to support Integrated Education, EA Sectoral Support works in partnership with the Council for Integrated Education (NICIE), the Controlled Schools' Support Council (CSSC), and liaises with the Irish Medium and Integrated Education (IMIE) team in the Department of Education (DE).  The partnership work between EA and NICIE and EA and CSSC is underpinned by Memoranda of Understanding which outline the distinctive roles and responsibilities of the respective organisations and set out a framework for cooperation which enables the three bodies to fulfil their functions in respect of Integrated schools and those schools considering Integrated status.