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The education minister and the Education Authority (EA) have been approached by a teaching union regarding the availability of school places for children with special education needs (SEN). Dr. Graham Gault, representing the National Association of Head Teachers Northern Ireland, has urged for urgent discussions to prevent a repeat of the recent rush for places. This call to action comes after news surfaced that six SEN children in Northern Ireland were left without school placements for September.
In response to the union’s letter, the EA affirmed that addressing the issue remains a top priority, emphasizing the need for a significant expansion in the number of mainstream schools offering specialized provisions. Earlier in June, the EA had informed school principals about a potential move to direct certain schools to admit SEN children, signaling an unprecedented measure in such circumstances. Dr. Gault pushed back against any insinuations from the education authority or the minister that schools were unwilling to cater to SEN students, describing such implications as deeply offensive.
The letter from the union highlights underfunding as a key obstacle hindering schools from adequately supporting children with special needs. It dismisses any blame placed on school leaders as unwarranted, pointing instead to sustained and systemic underfunding as the root cause of the ongoing crisis. The union’s appeal for constructive engagement with school leaders in high-need areas within the next two months underscores the necessity for strategic planning, adequate resources, and proactive preparation to break free from the perpetual crisis faced by SEN children.
Dr. Gault criticized the EA’s reactionary approach in securing places for SEN children this year, stating that such a situation should have been anticipated well in advance. He cautioned against disparaging school leaders and attempting to coerce ill-equipped schools into offering specialized provisions hastily and without sufficient support. On the other hand, the EA welcomed the proposal for collaboration to address the consistent shortages in SEN places, acknowledging the need for a broader network of mainstream schools providing specialized support. The EA’s commitment to ongoing engagement with schools in areas with high SEN demands is seen as a critical step towards ensuring all children receive quality education
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