A primary school in West Belfast has launched a new facility to support children with special educational needs. Christ the Redeemer Primary School, located in the Lagmore area, unveiled its Sunflower Room this week. This new facility is designed to provide a supportive learning environment for young pupils, helping them feel confident and happy as they progress through their education.
The Education Authority (EA) led significant renovations to ensure the school was ready for its new intake of students by September 2025. These upgrades include high-quality accommodations and extensive staff training to help meet the individual needs of each pupil.
At the opening ceremony, Principal Neil Watson expressed his excitement, saying, “We’ve already had many special moments with the children in the Sunflower Room as we help them develop new skills. We were thrilled to have the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People join us for the official opening to celebrate what we’ve achieved and look forward to the future.”
Principal Watson also praised the Sunflower Room’s staff, noting, “The dedicated team here encourages the children to learn, grow, and develop at their own pace. This room was the missing piece in our school, and it has made everyone’s educational journey richer. Our mainstream students have welcomed their Sunflower Room peers with open arms and are their biggest supporters. We are thankful to our team and educational partners for making this vision a reality.”
The new facility comes as the number of students in Northern Ireland with special educational needs continues to rise. Over the past six years, the region has seen the establishment of 480 additional Specialist Provision in Mainstream (SPiMS) classes across more than 190 schools, enhancing the quality of education for students with special needs.
In addition, 140 new classes have been introduced in special schools over the last three academic years, including eight dual-campus sites, all of which are now fully operational.
Chris Quinn, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, who officiated at the opening, commented, “It was an honor to visit Christ the Redeemer Primary School to officially open the Sunflower Room. The dedication of both the staff and the students was clear from the moment I arrived. It is crucial that children with special educational needs and disabilities receive the support they deserve throughout their education. This is their right, and our office is committed to ensuring that it is upheld.”
Quinn also expressed support for recent efforts to improve special educational needs (SEND) provision, stating, “I’m pleased to see the SEND reform plan published recently, but we must continue to see real actions that provide high-quality, inclusive education for all students.”
He added, “As with every school visit, the highlight was engaging with the pupils. It was heartening to see so many happy children enjoying the school’s facilities.”
