AQW 35547/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 14/11/2025
Answered On Date: 01/12/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any steps (i) his Department; and (ii) the Education Authority, plan to take to ensure pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs who require a Learning Support placement can access appropriate post-primary provision, within a reasonable distance of home, in line with statutory duties and equality obligations.

Answer:

The Education Authority (EA) are committed to ensuring that pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs can access appropriate educational provision close to their homes.

Since 2020, approximately 6,350 additional SEN places have been created across Northern Ireland. However, we recognise that significant challenges remain, with only 26% of our mainstream schools currently offering Specialist Provision classes. This has resulted in many children with SEN being unable to attend local schools alongside their siblings.

To address growing demand, current assumptions show an additional 5,000 SEN places will be needed over the next decade in mainstream schools. The EA is actively working to establish new Specialist Provision classes in mainstream schools, including post-primary settings, to ensure pupils can access education in line with their needs identified within a reasonable distance of home.

EA's SEN Capacity Team continues to engage directly with schools to discuss provision requirements for 2026, with a view to increasing capacity further. In November 2025, over 300 schools were invited to engagement events, with 64 schools attending. EA have now offered the 236 schools that who did not/could not attend these events, 4 additional dates in December to engage directly on this important issue for our children and young people.

We remain committed to meeting our statutory duties and equality obligations by ensuring access to education in line with their individual needs for all pupils with Special Educational Needs in their local communities with their peers and siblings.