(UK) NI: 51% increase in SPED numbers in 8yrs; total students up only 3.5%

Aug 27, 2025, Belfast Telegraph: Education chief expects ‘all schools’ to address SEN shortfall as teaching union blames ‘chronic underfunding’

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/education/education-chief-expects-all-schools-to-address-sen-shortfall-as-teaching-union-blames-chronic-underfunding/a1468681398.html 

A teaching union leader has blamed a crisis facing pupils with special education needs (SEN) on “chronic underfunding” by Stormont as the head of the EA warned all schools must be involved in ensuring provision.

National Association of Head Teachers national secretary Dr Graham Gault said “complex systemic issues” were stopping schools taking on more SEN classes.

“The fundamental issue remains chronic underfunding of education by the Executive,” he added.

It comes as EA chief Richard Pengelly revealed six pupils with statements of SEN still do not have a place with just days to go until the start of term.

A further 100 children across 23 schools may not be able to attend on the first day of term as efforts to create additional accommodation continue.

The EA has sent a strong message that all schools here “will need to be involved” in providing for children with SEN.

 “We have to move away from the annual cycle of potential shortfalls in places and create more certainty for children, their families and schools,” Mr Pengelly said.

“That will have to involve working towards a position where all schools are involved in providing specialist provision – where SEN teaching is mainstreamed in every sense of the word.

“That can be done alongside continued investment to keep growing the number of places in special schools. The overriding goal must be to provide the best possible education for all children.”

Some 1,374 additional SEN places have been created in schools for the 2025-26 academic year, involving 29 classes in special schools and 128 specialist provision classes in mainstream schools.

The EA insists “intensive work” is continuing to secure provision for all children and ensure they are accommodated “as early as possible in the new school year”.

“In addition to the usual phased induction to support new nursery and primary pupils at the start of term, bespoke arrangements will be in place for children and their families where there are delays, including alternative classroom provision within schools, structured home visits by qualified staff, stay and play sessions, or morning and afternoon classes,” it said.

Mr Pengelly said the additional SEN places this year had been made possible by a sustained push from the EA.

“Just two months ago, there was still a potential shortfall of 164 places. I commend all the work to significantly reduce that figure and thank the schools that have helped make it happen. However, much more still needs to be done.”

Mr Pengelly warned that the level of need “will increase again next year and that will require an increasing number of schools working with EA to provide inclusive solutions”.

“At present, only 26% of mainstream schools in NI currently offer specialist provision,” he said.

“This proportion must increase to meet the demands placed on the system.”

Figures published by the Department of Education in March showed that since 2017-18, the number of children here with statements of SEN has risen by around 51%, while the number attending special schools increased by around 25%.

By way of comparison, total pupil numbers have risen by around 3.5% over the same period. . . .

Mr Pengelly then wrote to a number of schools again requesting assistance, and said some may be formally instructed by the Department of Education to set up specialist provision because of the crisis over places.

Dr Gault said the increase in children with SEN statements over the past eight years “demonstrates the scale of need that schools are being asked to meet without adequate resources”. . . .