SDLP Foyle MLA Ma\rk H Durkan
A report from the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS), which comes less than three months since the NI Audit Office report on SEN, found that ‘little progress’ has been made to address problems faced by schools and pupils.
Said the Foyle MLA: “The NIAO report on Special Educational Needs in September, read as a litany of failures – painting a picture of services hamstrung by a colossal lack of resources and delays.
“It is therefore unsurprising that the CCMS report has come to a similar conclusion, showing little to no progress in the intervening months.
“SEN support has been a prolonged concern and I am under no impression that the system can be resolved overnight.
“However, it is incomprehensible and indefensible, that a review of SEN undertaken by the Department for Health in 2007, has still not been completed.
“Meanwhile thousands of children and their families, are struggling without the additional support they so desperately need.
“At the beginning of this school year, I wrote to Health Minister Swann calling for increased SEN investment to help families and individuals navigate the impact of the pandemic.
“That said it is now clear that a complete overhaul of SEN services and processes is required.
“The CCMS report highlights that one fifth the school population have special educational needs, 19,000 children in total have a statement detailing the additional support they require.
“However, the likelihood is that this figure is much higher, when taking into consideration the huge numbers on assessment waiting lists.
“It is heart-breaking and indeed frustrating, to hear of children struggling in a class of their peers without the help they need.
“It is even more frustrating to see report after report, highlighting deterioration in the delivery of SEN services.”
Mr Durkan added: “The system is crying out for long-overdue transformation and that can only happen when it is adequately resourced.
“Addressing the spiralling costs begins with early intervention and early diagnosis.
“The pandemic has posed an added burden on services already struggling to keep their head above water.
“This is not about a recovery plan, this calls for a complete overhaul for a system evidently in chaos.
“No child should be left behind when it comes to education.”
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