(UK) NI: Asking WHY ALL THE SPECIAL NEEDS--We don't really want to know

Dec 23, 2025, Newsletter: Time to ask 'honest questions' about soaring number of children with special educational needs statements – MLA

https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/time-to-ask-honest-questions-about-soaring-number-of-children-with-special-educational-needs-statements-mla-5452548#google_vignette

Stormont politicians have been reluctant to ask why the number of children in Northern Ireland with a statement of special educational needs has risen sharply in recent years, despite soaring costs for the Education Authority, a UUP MLA has said.

Jon Burrows says it is time the Assembly was asking “honest questions” about the issue – after revelations that the cost of taxiing children to school has topped £40m [$54M] per year, with some firms charging the government up to £83 [$111]  per mile.

Taxis are costing the Education Authority £40m [$54] per year, with some firms charging the government up to £83 [$111] per mile. The Education Authority (EA) said the cost – which has doubled in five years – is attributable in part to a sharp rise in the number of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) who are taken to school by taxi.

Parents can apply for a statement of special educational needs from the EA, which details the child’s requirements, and describes the support required from authorities to meet their needs – as well as the school they should attend. This can include special transport arrangements, including taxis to school.

The most recent figures from the Department of Education say that since 2017-18, the number of children with statements of SEN has risen by 51%, alongside an increase of 25% in children attending special schools.

Costs have more than doubled in that period. Since 2017-18, expenditure to provide support for children and young people who have, or may have, SEN or a disability has increased from £254m [$342M] in 2017-18 to £544m [$733M] for 2023-24 – an increase of 114% in six years.

UUP MLA Jon Burrows says that there are “questions for society” about the scale of the increase in SEN statements.

Speaking to the BBC’s Nolan Show, he said: “This isn't about stigmatising children or doubting anything, but there is a question for society about why there is a huge increase now.

“Is it a lag in diagnosis? Is it under diagnosis, and are there additional issues at play?”

The North Antrim MLA said Stormont’s education committee – on which he sits – is currently holding a special inquiry into special education needs.

“I asked at the start of that, could we have as an agenda item, why there is such an increase? Can we understand what the evidence base is for what is causing it – and there was a great reluctance to have that discussed.

 “And I think it's a matter that Stormont and the Education Authority and the education department – our society – should actually be asking honest questions about, and that's not about being... dismissive of things. It's not about some of the things you've heard in America about daft ideas about autism. It's not about any of that at all.

“It's actually about understanding why we've got an issue in our society and actually how we can best address it to support those young people, because I want to see young people with special education needs survive and thrive”.

At the weekend, the Press Association revealed that the EA is paying out up to £83 [$1122] per mile to taxi firms for taking SEN statemented children to school – and that more than £20 million [$27M] was paid out to just five taxi operators in Northern Ireland in the last financial year.

The North Antrim MLA also said money returned after the EA wrote to taxi operators shows that savings can be made. The EA had asked taxi firms to reduce their rates by 10%.

 “It shows what is possible. And that's why we need to be scrutinising spending in Stormont. I think there has to be an attitude that those who are officials, those who are ministers – they need to treat public spending as if it's their own money, and be really careful with it. Provide stewardship with it, and make sure we're getting the biggest bang for our buck”, Mr Burrows said.

An EA spokesperson said that the rise in taxi bills is in part a reflection of the increase in the number pupils with Special Educational Needs.

“The focus over a number of years has rightly been on securing sufficient placements. In

some cases, confirmation of placements has only been achieved at a late stage, with taxi transport arrangements required urgently as a result. To compound this, many of those placements have only been possible some distance from a child's home - meaning higher taxi bills”.

They said the EA wants more SEN provision in local communities, which is primarily to improve the service provided to children – but will also reduce taxi costs.