Givan Unveils Ambitious Special Educational Needs Reform

Education Minister Paul Givan has unveiled a comprehensive reform agenda aimed at improving the provision of support for children with special educational needs (SEN). The five-year delivery plan, developed following a thorough review of current policies and practices, will focus on early intervention and greater inclusion.

Speaking in the Assembly, Mr Givan acknowledged the frustrations experienced by children with SEN, their families, and schools due to systemic shortcomings. He emphasised the importance of early intervention, stating, "We know that early intervention works and it is vital that health and education are working together from the earliest stages in a child's life to identify and respond to emerging needs."

Key reforms outlined in the plan include:

• Enhanced early intervention: A bespoke regional program for two to three-year-olds will be established to identify and address emerging needs, with support for parents and families.

• Improved identification and assessment: Streamlined processes to ensure timely identification of SEN and appropriate support.

• Greater inclusion: Increased efforts to support inclusive education practices in mainstream schools.

• Strengthened in-school and specialist support: Expanded access to high-quality specialist services and support for schools.

• Workforce development: Investment in training and professional development for teachers and support staff.

The Minister expressed confidence that these reforms will significantly improve the lives of children with SEN and their families, ensuring they receive the support they need to reach their full potential. Emphasising the need for a change to the model of support for children with special educational needs, with a move away from one-to-one adult support for every child, and towards a more flexible model giving schools greater autonomy to meet the needs of the children in their schools, the Minister continued: "Within the existing model, parents and indeed many schools see a statement of special educational needs as being the best way of securing support for a child. Aligned to this, we also know that many view one-to-one classroom assistant support as the 'gold standard' intervention.

"However, evidence from emerging practice both here and elsewhere points to the effectiveness of a more nuanced approach where schools have greater flexibility to deploy a range of professional support models in the classroom. Some of our schools are already seeing the benefits of these approaches to children and we must make these opportunities more widely available as we continue to be guided by best practice and evidence on what works."

Acknowledging the need for additional investment in provision for children with special educational needs, the Minister continued: "The need for change is clear and the scale of the challenge is significant. This programme of reform will require significant and sustained investment. I will continue to make the case to the Executive for appropriate investment in our Education system to deliver on these important reforms.

"I am committed to delivering this much needed change during my mandate and to ensuring that our children and young people with special educational needs receive the support they deserve."

The Special Educational Needs Reform Agenda and delivery plan will be published in the coming weeks.