Nineteen children with special educational needs (SEN) in County Down are facing significant setbacks due to a delay in starting school. Ema Cubitt, the independent autism reviewer for Northern Ireland, described the situation as a “gut punch” for these families.
Cubitt criticized Education Minister Paul Givan for what she called “misplaced and out of touch priorities.” The children were expected to start at Oakwood School in Saintfield; however, construction work at the school remains unfinished.
The Education Authority (EA) explained that ongoing building projects across various schools are necessary to increase capacity. As a result, some schools are implementing alternative classroom arrangements or extending induction periods to accommodate student attendance. The EA stated this approach aims to create tailored learning environments that meet the specific needs of the children and young people in their communities.
Cubitt expressed her disbelief that, while many SEN children are being denied their right to education, Minister Givan is allocating £250,000 to limit mobile phone use in schools. She highlighted Givan’s recent meeting with the Loyalist Communities Council, which includes representatives of loyalist paramilitary groups.
In a statement, a Department of Education spokesperson emphasized that addressing the needs of children with SEN is a top priority for the minister and the Executive. They noted a significant rise in the number of children needing specialist educational support since 2020, leading to the creation of additional resources.
Since 2020, 183 new special education classes have been established, adding 1,450 new places. However, the implementation of these new provisions has required extensive construction efforts, causing unavoidable delays in opening some facilities.
Cubitt, appointed as Northern Ireland’s first autism reviewer by the Department of Health in August, has been inundated with emails from distressed families since beginning her role four weeks ago. She stated that the crisis is “incredibly plain to see.”
“The frustrating thing for me, the teachers, and the school community is that we were promised these facilities would be ready by the end of August. Now, these children may not start until November 4,” she said, pointing out that the EA has made no arrangements for the children during this period.
Cubitt highlighted that these children are not in school and are missing out on their right to education, which has a profound impact on them. She reached out to the principal of Oakwood School, which has a main campus in Belfast and a satellite location in the former St. Mary’s Primary in Saintfield, to discuss the situation.
The need for additional classrooms and facilities has risen significantly due to an increase in demand for special school placements in recent years. Many pupils with SEN across Northern Ireland are unable to start school because of similar delays in construction by the EA.
While the EA is working to establish more than 1,450 new places across special schools and specialized provisions in mainstream schools, Cubitt noted that when teachers realized the building would not be completed on time, they began home visits to the affected pupils.
The 19 children affected are set to enter pre-school or Primary One, with most having autism and many being non-verbal. Cubitt stressed the importance of getting these children into school promptly, as it is a new experience for them.
She urged the education and health ministers to “not look away from the ongoing crisis facing autistic children and young people in Northern Ireland.”
When asked about her criticism of the education minister’s priorities, Cubitt noted that parents of children unable to start school feel “ignored.” Many have attempted to contact the EA but have received no answers. Meanwhile, the EA has been publicly promoting attendance in schools.
A spokeswoman for the EA reiterated their commitment to meeting the individual needs of children with SEN. She stated that significant efforts are being made to provide appropriate places that reflect pupils’ needs.
The Department of Health acknowledged the considerable pressures on services. The health minister is aware of the situation and has met with both the Children’s Law Centre and the family of a child with complex needs to discuss the ongoing challenges. The minister recognizes the current situation is unsustainable and is determined to see urgent improvements in this area.
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