Alliance Condemns Lack of School Confirmation For SEN Pupils

Alliance Education spokesperson, Kate Nicholl MLA, has stated it is unacceptable that 120 children with special educational needs (SEN) statements in Northern Ireland still lack confirmed school placements for September.

South Belfast MLA, Kate Nicholl, made the comments following a briefing at Stormont yesterday (Tuesday 16 July) by the Education Authority (EA). She highlighted the recurring crisis in SEN education, emphasising the urgent need for reform and increased investment in the sector.

In a statement, Ms Nicholl said:

"While progress has been made, it is unacceptable 120 children are still awaiting confirmation of a place, with only a matter of weeks before the new school year begins.

"The annual crisis in special school placement is having devastating consequences for families across Northern Ireland and I am regularly contacted by desperate parents who don’t know where to turn. They will be extremely concerned the EA could not provide a guarantee at today’s briefing that every child who is currently waiting for a place will receive one before September 1.

"It is to be welcomed new family support link officers have been put in place to work with unplaced children, but there are just three of these staff in post for a caseload of 120 and, regardless of the ratio, there is a limit to how much help they can provide if there ultimately aren’t enough suitable school places for every SEN child.

"Our special schools have been over-capacity and under-resourced for far too long. This is leaving children without the quality education and holistic support they need to achieve their full potential. We are failing these young people and depriving them of the education every child should have by right.

"Alliance has called time and again for the Education Minister to prioritise the needs of SEN pupils and deliver the transformation, workforce and capacity needed to meet demand. We will continue to engage with the Department, the EA and the wider sector until this ambition is realised.”