Debate contribution: Summer Schemes in Special Schools: Cancellation

Debate contribution by Ms Cheryl Brownlee on 31 March 2026.

MLA

Ms Cheryl Brownlee

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

31 March 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Summer Schemes in Special Schools: Cancellation

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5471238

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I was as devastated as anyone here to see the EA's social media post last week that announced the cancellation of the summer schemes, but I do not want anyone to think that the debate is simply about one week of a summer programme. It is just the tip of the iceberg. It is another devastating blow to children with special educational needs and their families. It is so hard to express what life is really like as a parent of a child with SEN and the weight that it places on every aspect of your life. Those parents are not just struggling; they are just about surviving. It is a struggle every single day to get through to the next one. It is intense and relentless, and you are often in a constant state of fight or flight.

Simple tasks that many people take for granted, such as a trip to the shop, can feel impossible. Families become isolated as friends move on with their own children, and they are left behind. The village that we often speak of — the support network that it takes to raise a child — becomes smaller and smaller, as many feel unable to cope with the challenges involved.

For some families, there is nothing left but the support provided by the education system just to get through the day, and, when summer arrives, those eight weeks can feel impossibly long. Summer holidays, which should be a time of joy, are not the same for our children. A simple trip to the park or the zoo can become overwhelming and unmanageable. Many families find themselves confined to their home or to their child's one safe space, thereby becoming further isolated and struggling even more. We must be honest about the harsh reality of life for some of our SEN children who have significant physical and behavioural challenges. That means biting, hitting and self-harming behaviour such as head-banging. When routines are disrupted, those challenges intensify, leaving parents completely exhausted and often at breaking point, physically and mentally. Every Saturday, I sit with parents at a small group in Monkstown called Monkstown Special Stars. It was my lifeline and still is. I listen to families who face challenges that are far more complex than mine, and I see the quiet resilience that they show every day. Many are so desperate for support that they seek assessments from social workers, only to be turned away because of the pressure on the system or budget constraints. Direct payments are a distant dream, and respite care is out of reach. In that context, summer schemes are not a luxury; they are a lifeline. Even one or two weeks can make the difference between coping and complete burnout. We often speak about families reaching breaking point, but the truth is that they are already there. They simply keep going because they have no choice. No one is coming to rescue them. Criticising the EA or the health service will not improve the lives of those children or of the families who are here today. We must recognise the complexity of the situation. No one wants summer scheme provision to be unsafe. No principal, teacher or classroom assistant should be expected to take on responsibilities for which they are not supported or trained. Concerns raised by staff must be listened to. The reality is that specialist nursing provision has been reduced. Schools have been calling for this for some time. Summer schemes are not straightforward, staff can differ from those in term time, and familiarity with children's needs is not always there. For such programmes to succeed, every individual involved must feel safe, supported and equipped. That is not the case. I welcome the fact that appropriate nursing provision has now been granted. Hopefully, the schemes can proceed. However, it is extremely concerning and disappointing that we are here today. Thankfully, the Ministers have worked hard to get the provision back up and running. SEN is a priority for the Government — there is agreement on that across the House — but, if that is truly the case, it must be a priority for us all: for Health, Education and Finance. Perhaps the one positive outcome from today is that the debate has highlighted the strength of public feeling and society's willingness to stand up for our most vulnerable. We must now move beyond words. We must work together, learn from what has happened and take meaningful action. The issue should unite us all here today. Families who are affected do not care who gets credit or attracts a headline; they just care whether their child is safe and supported. If we are serious about making SEN a priority, we must all start delivering consistently, together and with urgency for those young people and their families.

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

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:16 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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