Children with special needs in Northern Ireland face “unacceptable” delays getting the support they need in schools.
That’s the view of the province’s children’s commissioner, Koulla Yiasouma.
Northern Ireland children’s commissioner Koulla Yiasouma says the province’s special needs education system is “fast approaching a crisis point”
Yiasouma has published her first Statement on Children’s Rights in Northern Ireland.
Education, poverty and mental health are among areas she has covered.
Four in five statements fail legal time limit
In her report, Yiasouma highlights how in 2015-16, 79 per cent of statements of special educational needs (SEN) were completed outside the legal time limit of 26 weeks.
A separate Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) report has also heavily criticised SEN provision in the province.
It said neither the Department of Education nor the Education Authority (EA) could demonstrate value for money over support arrangements for special needs children in mainstream schools.
Assessment ‘crisis point’ for special needs in Northern Ireland
In comments to Autism Eye, Yiasouma said the assessment system for special needs in Northern Ireland is “fast approaching a crisis point”.
She said by the time health professionals assess a child as needing a statement time is of the essence to ensure they get the “additional provision that they need”.
Yiasouma said any further delays could “result in children being further negatively impacted” in terms of their education, and “emotional wellbeing and self-esteem”.
Statements ‘difficult to enforce’
She also highlights how statements of SEN have become more vague and “difficult to enforce”.
Evidence shows a move away from “specification and quantification”, which detail the total number of assistance hours a child requires.
Yiasouma says this is a breach of Article 16 of the Education (NI) Order 1996.
A spokesperson for Northern Ireland’s Education Authority said it is committed to ensuring the support of children with special needs.
“We are also committed to ensuring that the rights of our children and young people are central to all we do,” the spokesperson added.
Autism Eye contacted The Department of Education, but it did not respond.
Related:
- Northern Ireland funding ‘not enough’
- N Ireland schools ‘almost in crisis’
- N Ireland pay hikes at top despite cuts
- Cuts hit ‘crucial help’ in N Ireland
- Parents defy dire services in N Ireland
- Huge increase in diagnosis in N Ireland
Published: 9 July 2018
