Motion

Motion TitleSupport for Special Educational Needs Coordinators

Motion TextThat this Assembly recognises the crucial role of Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) in supporting children and ensuring they can access the support they require to thrive in education; acknowledges that the majority of SENCOs are also teachers and many currently do not have the time within contracted hours to deliver both roles; expresses concern at the excessive and increasing workload SENCOs are facing and the subsequent impact this is having on their mental health and work-life balance; further recognises the need to provide timely and meaningful interventions, to alleviate pressures being felt by the SENCO workforce and ensure we do not lose valuable practitioners; further acknowledges that ongoing reforms, such as the introduction of the SEND Local IMPACT Teams and proposed changes to classroom support are, at times, placing even further pressure on SENCOs and must be adequately resourced and implemented with a child-centred approach; calls on the Minister of Education to undertake a review of the workload of SENCOs, which includes clear recommendations, including considering the viability of ensuring the role, where appropriate, could be exclusively non-teaching; and further calls on the Minster to outline how feedback from SENCOs is currently shaping the implementation of special educational needs reforms.

Motion CategoryPrivate Members' Motion

Date Tabled to Business Office23/03/2026

Date Selected By Committee14/04/2026

Date of Plenary Debate28/04/2026