A behaviour specialist says children with autism in Northern Ireland are missing out on crucial help because of education cuts.
Speaking out: Dr Nichola Booth says classroom assistants’ hours are substantially reduced
The warning comes from ABA consultant Dr Nichola Booth. She works for Northern Ireland charity Parents’ Education as Autism Therapists (PEAT).
Booth said there had been a substantial reduction in classroom assistants’ help for children with autism and learning disabilities.
Previously, she said schools would typically offer children full-time support, or 35 hours. They had now cut the support to around 20 to 25 hours.
She blames fears over education cuts for the reduction in classroom assistants’ hours.
Cuts leave children unsupported
She said assistants were leaving the children unsupported during break times and lunch periods.
“We’re maybe getting sent families where their child is having to leave school early because there’s no support for them in the afternoon,” she said.
“Or they’re maybe having to sit in a classroom at lunchtime because there’s no classroom assistant support for the playground.”
Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government since January. Its coalition collapsed over a botched energy scheme.
Secretary of State James Brokenshire published figures for a budget he would impose if the parties do not reach a deal.
Issue over inclusion: Colm Davis of Tor Bank school warns work on inclusion will be more difficult
Loss of £50m from budget
The proposed 2.5 per cent cut would represent a loss of £50m from the education budget.
Colm Davis is the principal of Tor Bank special needs school in Dundonald, Northern Ireland. In a Facebook message he said it was too early to assess the impact on special education needs, but mainstream schools would suffer “significantly”.
He warned that class sizes may increase to offset the reduction in budgets. He said this will impact on support for children with autism.
Davis added: “Reduction in staffing levels, reduction in specialised resources and reduction in training as a result of financial constraint will definitely make successful inclusive practices more difficult to implement.”
Published: 25 May 2017
