(UK) NI: 160 sped students have no place; Ed Minister ordered to appear before Assembly

June 28, 2025, Belfast Live: MLA demands Minister appear before Assembly to address SEN school places crisis

Speaking to Belfast Live, Danny Baker said that it is very worrying that year after year the same issues are appearing for children with special educational needs

Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker has called on the Education Minister to appear before the Assembly to address the issues around the placement of children with special educational needs amid the ongoing SEN crisis, with 160 children currently without a school place for September.

The West Belfast MLA and member of Stormont's Education Committee has submitted an Urgent Oral Question on the issue, which may be heard in the Assembly on Monday.

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Mr Baker said that the Minister must appear before the Assembly to explain his handling of the process and that he must work with the Education Authority to ensure every child has a suitable placement and that schools receive the resources they need.

Speaking to Belfast Live, Danny Baker said: "It is very worrying when we see year after year the same issues appearing for children with special educational needs not receiving a school place at the same time as their peers, being placed in a setting that doesn't meet their needs or not receiving a school place at all.

"Last year, we had a situation where additional provision was set up in mainstream schools, and a lot of children were placed there. But this year, based on the evidence that we took this week at the Education Committee, they are struggling to find any places for these children.

"I don't want to worry parents any more than they already are, but we are facing a situation where children could be without a school place for a very long time, or they may only be offered a morning or afternoon in a school that meets their needs, which is completely unacceptable."