Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
Parents of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in Northern Ireland have expressed their disappointment at the lack of opportunity within the current political timeline to change legislation that would guarantee ongoing support when these young people leave school. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt informed members of the assembly that time has run out to introduce legal changes before the next election, scheduled for May 2027. Nesbitt explained that purdah—a pre-election period during which new ministerial policies cannot be enacted—prevents any legislative progress on this matter in the current mandate.
Alma White, who campaigns for improved SEN provisions through her organization Caleb’s Cause, shared her deep frustration as her 18-year-old autistic son Caleb approaches the end of his school years. She described the current system as failing many young people, highlighting that the existing legislation governing SEN support in Northern Ireland is nearly five decades old. Unlike England, where Education and Health Care Plans (EHCPs) provide protections and support until the age of 25, Northern Ireland’s SEN statements—which legally outline the support a child should receive—cease when compulsory education ends. White lamented the government’s inaction, saying, “Caleb and so many others all over NI are being failed and our executive are knowingly allowing this to continue.”
Similarly, Caroline Campbell, mother to autistic son Oscar who is also nearing the conclusion of his special school placement, voiced her heartbreak over the future her son faces. She stressed that the lack of legislative reform signals a governmental disregard for her son’s potential, stating, “My heart is broken at the thought of him being at home 24/7 with me for the rest of his life. What about his potential?” Campbell emphasized that meaningful change in the law is the only path to granting her son real choices and an equitable future.
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison raised the issue in the assembly, questioning the Health Minister on plans to introduce care and support measures for SEN pupils transitioning out of the school system. Though Mathison stressed the concerns of many parents about losing the protections of SEN statements post-school, Nesbitt admitted there was no possibility for legal reform before the next election. He expressed regret over the constraints but reaffirmed that the government was not ignoring the issue, explaining, “There is no plan because we are being told that there is no legislative space between now and purdah.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.