(UK) NI: 85% increase in special needs plans in 10 yrs
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Feb 19, 2026, Derry Journal: Plans to reform classroom support for children with special educational needs in Northern Ireland
The Education Authority has set out details of plans to reform classroom support for children with special educational needs as it claimed the current system was not meeting the needs of too many children.
Th Education Authority said its Enhanced Support Model plans were aimed at delivering the ‘best possible outcomes for our children and young people’.
The EA said the changes should not be “characterised as a measure to cut costs or reduce the current number of classroom assistants”, while at the same time stating that “failure to deliver change to the current model of support will have a very significant financial consequence”.
The Enhanced Support Model will see schools shaping SEN classroom support to meet the individual needs of pupils, with the EA saying they will now have ‘greater flexibility and freedom’ to do this.
The new model will provide new opportunities for classroom assistants in terms of career and specialist skill development, the EA said, adding that the reforms are set to be introduced in a phased process over a number of years, starting later this year.
A newly published briefing paper on the reforms states that across the north, 34,011 pupils had a statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) as of September 2025, an increase of 85% in 10 years.
It continues that recent analysis of needs listed in statements identified over 1,400 combinations of need – “demonstrating complexity far beyond the capability of the existing three‑pathway model".
"This creates”, the EA briefing paper states, “a huge pressure on schools, teachers and the wider education sector. It shows the need of our population is growing and changing and we must have systems and practices to meet this need.
"However, despite a clear understanding of the needs of the children and young people in our schools, the response provided is largely one of three – special school, specialist provision or mainstream setting with a classroom assistant. For many of our children and young people, this support offer does not provide specialist support, does not consider the individual child or young person’s needs and therefore does not meet the needs of our children and young people with a statement of SEN. This is unacceptable and we must change to provide services that are tailored to needs and provide optimal outcomes for children and young people.”
The EA said studies looking at the provision of SEN support for children and young people in Northern Ireland have consistently described a system that delivers poorer outcomes than other jurisdictions.
"We cannot accept this and therefore must find a way that focusses on delivering the best possible outcomes for our children and young people.” . . .
The briefing paper also states: “The enhanced support model will also require us to bring other professionals into the schools. This must include health and social care staff, such as speech and language, occupational and physical therapy, social work and psychology. It could also include others, such as youth work. In doing so, we will establish a multidisciplinary, and multi-skilled workforce focussed on the needs of our children and young people – each working together to meet their needs, enabling them to thrive.
“In practice, this means recognising that those who know our children and young people best are those in schools. School leaders will therefore have freedom to structure how the support package is built in their schools, to be able to meet the specific needs of the children and young people in their school. However, it is important to acknowledge the unique challenges faced by schools in rural or more isolated areas. Tailored approaches and additional support may be required to ensure equity for children and young people in these communities.” . . .
By June this year the finalised model will be published following co‑production and consultation along with new guidance for statutory assessment and statements.
By September the phased implementation will commence with all new statements adopting the ‘Enhanced Support Model’ format.
That same month 40 special schools and 150 alternative/ pilot mainstream schools will begin delivery.
In 2027–2028 the full rollout is scheduled across the boundaries of two HSC Trust areas before being expanded the following year.
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