Special needs families are placing an “unprecedented” number of calls to a children’s charity amid concerns over education cuts in Northern Ireland.
Sharon McDaid: a lack of classroom support is the greatest concern for parents
The Children’s Law Centre, in Belfast, says many parents are appealing to a special educational needs and disability tribunal (SENDIST).
Appeals over assessments and special needs statements
The appeals have been mounted over the behaviour of Northern Ireland’s education authority. They concern refusals to carry out statutory assessments or the contents of statements of special needs.
Out of 2,953 issues raised with the Law Centre in the year to 30 September 2017, some 1,115 were concerned with special needs.
The figure compares to 871 calls related to special needs in the year to September 2016.
Warning of £350m funding gap
Gavin Boyd is the chief executive of Northern Ireland’s Education Authority.
He has warned that the province’s education system could be facing a £350m funding gap by 2019-20.
Liam Mackle is the advice manager for the Children’s Law Centre. He said they “do not expect things to improve in the short term”.
Sharon McDaid is an education co-ordinator with the National Autistic Society (NAS) in Northern Ireland. She said they are “receiving more calls than ever” to their helpline.
Liam Mackle of the Children’s Law Centre: the charity has seen growing numbers of parents concerned about their child’s statementing process
Insufficient classroom support
The most common issue is insufficient classroom support. There are also problems with school staff refusing to listen to parents and a lack of understanding about autism.
A spokesperson for Northern Ireland’s Department of Education said it recently got an extra £26m. This was to help with pressures on schools budgets caused by issues such as special educational needs.
The Department is working with the Education Authority to ensure the money is targeted at “key areas of need”, added the spokesperson.
Related:
- Northern Ireland funding ‘not enough’
- Cuts hit ‘crucial help’ in N Ireland
- Parents defy dire services in N Ireland
- Huge increase in diagnosis in N Ireland
- Recording of teacher’s rant goes viral
- Learning Disability Pride Day planned
Published: 20 December 2017
