Education Authority launches SEN support sessions for worried parents

Families across Northern Ireland waiting for confirmation of school places for children with special educational needs are being offered direct one-to-one support through a new series of online drop-in sessions hosted by the Education Authority.

The initiative comes amid growing pressure on the region’s SEN system, with demand for specialist placements continuing to rise sharply and thousands of additional places projected to be needed over the next decade.

Parents and carers will be able to speak directly with a SEN Link Officer about their child’s individual circumstances, including ongoing placement concerns ahead of the new school year.

The sessions are aimed at families whose children are moving between key stages of education, including:

• Pre-school to Primary 1

• Year 7 to Year 8

• Senior High School and Dickson Plan transfer years

The Education Authority said ensuring every child with SEN is placed in a setting that meets their individual needs remains a “critical priority”.

Unlike standard school admissions, placements for children with Statements of SEN are decided through a statutory assessment process, meaning there is no single confirmation date for all families.

EA said each placement is determined individually based on professional assessments and the specific needs of the child.

Ballymena among areas hosting sessions

Families in the Ballymena area will be able to access online sessions on:

• Wednesday 20 May 2026

• Wednesday 10 June 2026

Additional sessions are also being held in:

• Armagh – Wednesday 10 June 2026

• Belfast – Thursday 21 May and Thursday 11 June 2026

• Dundonald – Thursday 21 May and Thursday 11 June 2026

• Omagh – Wednesday 27 May 2026

Places are limited and parents are being encouraged to book early.

Further sessions covering all transfer age groups are expected to be advertised through social media channels in the coming weeks.

For general SEN enquiries, families can contact SEN Central on 028 9031 7777 between 9am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

More than 70,000 pupils identified with SEN

The latest figures underline the scale of demand facing Northern Ireland’s education system.

More than 70,700 pupils in schools across Northern Ireland currently have some form of special educational need, representing 20.1% of the entire school population.

The Education Authority currently supports more than 35,000 pupils with a Statement of SEN.

While many children can be supported within mainstream education through enhanced provision, others require placement in specialist settings or special schools due to more acute or complex needs.

Demand for specialist provision has increased significantly in recent years and is expected to continue climbing.

According to projections prepared by NISRA for the Department of Education in June 2025, Northern Ireland will require:

• 1,118 additional special school places by 2033/34

• 4,529 specialist provision places over the same period

The Education Authority said it has created more than 6,000 additional SEN places since 2020 in an effort to meet growing need.

However, only 26% of schools currently offer Specialist Provision to support children with SEN within their local communities.

EA said it is continuing to work with schools to develop additional places ahead of September 2026.

Pressure continues on SEN system

The issue of SEN capacity has become one of the most pressing challenges facing Northern Ireland’s education system, with many parents expressing frustration in recent years over delays, uncertainty and shortages in suitable placements.

The Education Authority said its long-term vision is to build a more “flexible and agile” network of specialist provision alongside special schools, helping more children access support in an appropriate setting closer to home.

Families wishing to secure a place at one of the online sessions can book through the Education Authority’s SEN school placements portal.

The latest support initiative is intended to provide families with clearer communication and direct access to advice at a time when many remain anxious about confirmed placements ahead of September.