Appearing before the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Education Committee today (Wednesday 3rd December) as part of its inquiry into Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), the Children’s Law Centre (CLC) acknowledged ongoing efforts by the Department of Education and the Education Authority (EA) to transform the SEND system.
However, CLC stressed that every step must be taken to ensure these reforms do not replicate the shortcomings of the past.
Despite years of work under the SEND transformation programme, many children still face delays in accessing the support they need. CLC warned that without meaningful change, the system risks rebranding old barriers rather than removing them.
Speaking after appearing at the committee, Rachel Hogan BL, SEND Specialist Legal Adviser said: “The percentage of children on the SEN register who now require a statement has doubled in the last decade, rising from 22% in 2014/15 to 42% in 2024/25. This reflects a system where children’s needs are being left unmet for prolonged periods.
“We recognise the commitment to improving SEND provision, but transformation must lead to tangible outcomes for children. Too many families continue to experience prolonged waits for specialist support and this cannot become the norm. Every child has a right to education now, not in another decade.
“Despite the clear commitment, children with special educational needs are still being left without education. For some families being supported by CLC, the loss of education has stretched into years.
“In our work, we continue to see disabled children put on reduced timetables, sent home early, or simply left without any education at all. This is not acceptable under the law and it should never be acceptable in any society that values children’s rights.
“Continuing to build systems upon a shaky foundation with insufficient financial and human resources will not produce changed outcomes. Increasing capacity of pupil support services to respond directly to children through early intervention to meet their needs will enable the EA pupil support services to deliver positive change.”
Picture attached (Left to Right): Rachel Hogan BL, CLC SEND Specialist Legal Adviser; Diane Hammond, CLC Legal Adviser; Kathryn Stevenson, CLC Head of Legal; Liam Mackle, CLC Advice Manager.
