Debate contribution: Special Educational Needs: Crisis in Provision

Debate contribution by Ms Cheryl Brownlee on 8 September 2025.

MLA

Ms Cheryl Brownlee

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

8 September 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Special Educational Needs: Crisis in Provision

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5068846

Read the official Assembly record

Text

This matter affects not just our education system but the lives of thousands of children and families across Northern Ireland: the state of the special school education system. As we know, every child, regardless of their needs, has the right to equality of education. However, the reality for many families and children who have special educational needs is far from ideal. Despite recent significant efforts and incredibly positive steps, we are still in a challenging situation. The placement of a child with special educational needs is complex. Whilst I have always understood and advocated the importance of prioritising those children, I did not fully grasp the intricacies of securing the right placement until I became a parent myself. Now, as I navigate the process alongside many families, I have a deeper appreciation of the challenges involved, even when a placement is secured, due to the nature of special educational needs. It involves much more than bricks and mortar. It needs a supportive and skilled workforce; access to the correct equipment; specialist input such as occupational and speech and language therapy; flexibility; and communication, because SEN is not straightforward. We are guided by the child, and that takes time, and parents need support in this too. Sometimes communication is one of the key factors for all involved. It is not just about Education and the Minister. We understand that there are responsibilities for Health. We also have to realise that there will be a significant impact on our economy, with more parents struggling to remain in employment and carers struggling financially. Sadly, some children who have not been supported will even end up in the justice system. What has become incredibly clear to me is the invaluable impact made by our classroom assistants, teachers and school leaders. Their dedication and support when working in incredibly challenging environments is absolutely vital to ensuring that every child receives the education that they deserve. They truly are the backbone. Therefore, I am pleased to see that the long-standing pay and grading issues have been resolved by the Minister, with increased pay secured and career progression pathways announced. Those steps are absolutely critical, as our education workforce is the foundation on which a strong and effective SEN system is built. We are aware of the environment in which we operate, with almost one in five of our pupils identified as having special educational needs. As it stands, nearly 30,000 children have a statement of SEN, and the number is growing. Despite the best efforts of our educators, support staff and health professionals, we know that we struggle to meet the demand. In recent months there has been positive progress. Some 1,374 new SEN places have been created across more than 150 classrooms. Last year, in my constituency, £7 million was invested in special schools, and we have seen improvements in placement rates. That is a step forward, but it is just the beginning. We need to be really honest about the scale of the challenges that we face and honest about priorities. When the Minister speaks and seeks support in the Executive to fund his SEN reform agenda, we must be there to support him. Parents and children are experiencing real frustrations with the current system. The lack of available spaces in specialist settings is one of the most pressing issues. Families are being left with no choice but to expect and accept placements that are not ideal, and, in some cases, children are being left behind. We know that the SEN reform agenda is ambitious. I acknowledge the £27·5 million investment and the commitment to new builds, but, again, we must be honest: the gap between what is needed and what is provided is widening, not narrowing. We must push for more funding, more spaces and a system that genuinely meets the needs of every child not just on paper but in practice, and that will require the support of every Member. Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, and that cannot happen unless we provide the right support at the right time in the right place. We owe it to every child in Northern Ireland to ensure that they are not left behind.

700 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:03 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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