NI schools must step up for SEN children: EA’s bold call amid place shortages

In a significant push to address the escalating needs of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in Northern Ireland, the Education Authority (EA) has emphasised that every school must play a role in delivering specialist provision.

This comes as the EA announces the creation of 1,374 additional SEN places for the 2025-26 academic year, marking a substantial expansion in response to growing demand.

The new places include 29 classes in special schools and 128 specialist provision classes in mainstream schools, representing the largest expansion in recent history.

Over the past five years, the EA has delivered more than 6,000 additional SEN places between 2020 and 2025. However, challenges remain, with six pupils still awaiting confirmed placements as of today, Wednesday, 27 August 2025.

Intensive efforts are underway to secure provision for these children at the earliest opportunity in the new school year.

Adding to the complexities, construction works at 62 schools will extend into September, potentially affecting around 100 children across 23 schools who may not be able to attend full-time from the start of term.

The EA is collaborating closely with affected schools to minimise disruptions, implementing bespoke arrangements such as alternative classroom spaces, structured home visits by qualified staff, stay-and-play sessions, or split morning and afternoon classes.

These measures build on the standard phased induction for new nursery and primary pupils.

EA chief executive Richard Pengelly highlighted the scale of the achievement while underscoring the need for systemic change.

“The creation of 1,374 additional SEN places this year has been made possible by a sustained push. Just two months ago, there was still a potential shortfall of 164 places,” he said.

“I commend all the work to significantly reduce that figure and thank the schools that have helped make it happen. However, much more still needs to be done.

“We have to move away from the annual cycle of potential shortfalls in places and create more certainty for children, their families and schools. That will have to involve working towards a position where all schools are involved in providing specialist provision – where SEN teaching is mainstreamed in every sense of the word. That can be done alongside continued investment to keep growing the number of places in Special Schools.

“To inspire, support and challenge all our Children and Young People to be the best that they can be.

“The overriding goal must be to provide the best possible education for all children. The level of need will increase again next year and that will require an increasing number of schools working with EA to provide inclusive solutions.”

Currently, only 26% of mainstream schools in Northern Ireland offer specialist provision, a figure the EA deems unsustainable given the rising demand.

Figures from the Department of Education’s Budget 2025-26 Equality Impact Assessment reveal that since 2017-18, the number of children with statements of SEN has surged by approximately 51%, while attendance at special schools has risen by about 25%.

In contrast, overall pupil numbers have increased by just 3.5% over the same period. Over 33,000 children in Northern Ireland now hold statements of SEN.

To bolster mainstream schools’ capacity, the EA provides extensive support, including a £3,000 setup allowance per class, full funding for teaching and non-teaching staff, and annual allocations of £18,000 to £46,000 depending on the provision type and key stage.

Capital funding for building modifications is also available, alongside training programmes and dedicated staffing from the Specialist Provision Service.

In a major initiative set to launch in September 2025, 28 new Local IMPACT Teams will be established across Northern Ireland.

These multi-disciplinary teams will bring together experts in autism, language and communication, literacy, and social, behavioural, and wellbeing needs, offering localised support to schools, children, and families.

The aim is to ensure early intervention within communities, enhancing accessibility and effectiveness.

Specialist provision in mainstream schools typically involves small, dedicated classes tailored to specific needs, such as Specialist Provision Learning (SPL) for learning difficulties, Specialist Provision Social Communication/Autism (SPSC), and Specialist Provision Special (SPS). This model facilitates integration into mainstream activities where suitable, while delivering targeted support.

For families navigating SEN placements, the EA offers dedicated resources, including a central phoneline on 028 9031 7777, a SEN website with guidance, and individual sessions with SEN Link Officers.

Those awaiting placements are assigned Family Support Link Officers for additional assistance. As of 27 August, 99.86% of children—4,369 out of 4,375—have confirmed placements.

The EA’s vision is clear: a shift towards inclusive education where all schools contribute to SEN provision, reducing reliance on an annual scramble for places and fostering certainty for families.

While special schools remain vital for those with the most acute needs, the emphasis is on a balanced approach that meets diverse requirements through mainstream integration and enhanced support.

This development underscores the ongoing challenges in Northern Ireland’s education system, where budgetary constraints have not deterred unprecedented expansion.

As demand continues to outpace overall pupil growth, the call for universal school involvement signals a transformative step towards equitable education for all.