Debate contribution: Special Educational Needs: School Placements
Debate contribution by Mr Paul Givan on .
- MLA
- Mr Paul Givan
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 6 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Special Educational Needs: School Placements
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5776852
Read the official Assembly record
Text
My Department works closely with the Education Authority (EA) to plan and develop specialist educational provision across Northern Ireland in line with assessed need and demographic trends. It is recognised that, for children and families, the statutory assessment process can feel lengthy in the context of a school year. However, recent improvements to the process have increased efficiency, with the EA meeting statutory timescales in around 80% of cases. Digitisation of the statutory assessment and placement process, including the online live portal, is intended to improve efficiency, transparency and access to live progress updates. The EA has a statutory duty to secure educational placements for children and young people with a statement of special educational needs. Placements are determined individually through the statutory assessment and review process, taking account of each child’s assessed needs, professional advice, parental preference, available provision and school capacity. For the 2026-27 school year, more than 4,400 children with a statement of SEN in transition years secured a school place before the start of term. The EA continually reviews demand for specialist placements and undertakes strategic planning. The EA's area planning, placement and commissioning processes are informed by pupil population data, statutory assessment information, projected demand and local geographical considerations. Those processes help to identify gaps in provision and support decisions about where additional specialist capacity may be required.
223 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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