Hunter warns SEN reforms could ‘cause serious issues’ as pressure mounts on Education Minister to halt plans

SDLP MLA for East Londonderry Cara Hunter

Growing cross-sector backlash as Children’s Law Centre and 14 organisations raise concerns over impact on vulnerable pupils, schools and families

Mounting opposition to proposed special educational needs (SEN) reforms has intensified, with SDLP MLA Cara Hunter calling on the Education Minister to immediately halt the plans amid warnings they could place already overstretched schools under further strain and negatively impact vulnerable children across Northern Ireland.

The East Derry MLA issued the warning following a fresh intervention from the Children’s Law Centre, which has raised concerns about the potential consequences of the proposed changes.

An open letter to the Minister, backed by 14 organisations including teaching unions, has added to growing unease across the education sector.

Warnings from sector escalate as reforms progress

Concerns about the reforms have been building since they were first announced, with schools, staff and parents repeatedly raising alarm about their practicality and potential impact on frontline education provision.

Cara Hunter said those warnings have been consistently ignored, despite increasing evidence from across the sector that the changes could prove unworkable in practice.

“From the day these reforms were announced schools, staff and parents have warned that the Minister’s proposed reforms to support young people with SEN in schools were unworkable and he has ploughed on regardless. Today’s intervention from the Children’s Law Centre is welcome and underlines the negative impact these changes would have,” she said.

The involvement of the Children’s Law Centre, alongside the coordinated response from 14 organisations, marks a significant escalation in the level of concern being voiced publicly about the direction of SEN policy.

Pressure on schools and classroom assistants highlighted

A central concern raised by the SDLP relates to the role of classroom assistants, who are widely regarded as critical to the day-to-day support of children with SEN in mainstream school settings.

Hunter pointed to a recent Opposition Day motion brought forward by her party, which sought to highlight both the importance of classroom assistants and the risks posed by the proposed reforms to an already pressured system.

“Last month the SDLP brought forward an Opposition Day motion highlighting the need for the Minister to acknowledge the role that classroom assistants play in supporting children with SEN and how the proposed reforms would put further pressure on schools and staff already at breaking point. He hasn’t listened,” she said.

Schools across Northern Ireland have faced sustained challenges in recent years, including rising demand for SEN support, staffing pressures, and resource constraints, with classroom assistants often forming the backbone of in-class support for pupils with additional needs.

Concerns over pace, scrutiny and accountability

Beyond the operational impact on schools, Hunter also raised concerns about the speed at which the reforms are being advanced and the level of scrutiny applied to them.

She warned that the Education Minister is moving forward with wide-ranging changes to the education system without sufficient oversight from the Northern Ireland Assembly or meaningful accountability from other Executive parties.

“We are seeing the Education Minister move forward quickly with sweeping reforms to our education system with little opportunity for scrutiny by the Assembly or accountability from other Executive parties,” she said.

The pace of reform, combined with the scale of proposed changes, has heightened fears among stakeholders that unintended consequences could emerge if the measures are implemented without further consultation or adjustment.

Calls to halt reforms before impact is felt

Hunter urged the Minister to pause the reforms and engage more fully with experts and stakeholders before proceeding, warning that failure to do so could have serious consequences for children, families and school staff.

“The Minister must listen to the experts and halt these changes before it begins to cause serious issues in our schools and for our SEN young people and their families,” she added.

The growing coalition of opposition, spanning political representatives, legal advocates, education professionals and unions, signals increasing pressure on the Minister to reconsider the direction and timing of the proposed SEN reforms.

With concerns now firmly established across multiple parts of the education system, attention is likely to turn to whether further engagement or revisions will be made before the changes progress further.

---

At a glance

• SDLP MLA Cara Hunter has called on the Education Minister to halt proposed SEN reforms

• Intervention follows warning from the Children’s Law Centre about negative impacts

• Open letter opposing reforms backed by 14 organisations, including teaching unions

• Concerns raised that reforms are “unworkable” and could worsen pressure on schools

• Classroom assistants highlighted as critical to SEN support provision

• SDLP previously tabled Opposition Day motion on the issue

• Claims reforms are being rushed with limited Assembly scrutiny or accountability

• Warning that changes could cause “serious issues” for pupils, families and schools