Education authorities in Northern Ireland are responding to ongoing SEN placement shortages by urging proactive planning and increased funding, amid a backdrop of systemic underinvestment and political tensions over expanding specialist provision.
Education authorities in Northern Ireland have welcomed calls from school principals for early engagement to prevent a repeat of the recent Special Educational Needs (SEN) crisis, which saw a significant last-minute scramble to find school places for children with SEN. The regional arm of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) sent an open letter to the Education Authority (EA) and Education Minister Paul Givan, urging immediate talks to avoid the severe disruption experienced this year, when over 160 children initially faced being without appropriate placements. Although most children have since been placed, some are only expected to start school after Halloween.
Graham Gault, the national secretary of the NAHT, criticised suggestions from EA and the minister that some schools were unwilling to accommodate pupils with SEN as “profoundly insulting.” He emphasised that principals and teachers consistently demonstrate “unwavering commitment and professional excellence.” The letter highlighted chronic underfunding as a major barrier to schools’ ability to support children with SEN effectively. Gault called for an earlier collaborative approach involving the identification of needs well in advance, alongside ensuring all schools have the necessary funding, resources, and space to meet demand, rather than relying on last-minute crisis management.
The EA has expressed support for this proactive approach, acknowledging the need for collective action to end the “annual cycle of ‘perpetual crisis’” over SEN places. According to an EA statement, planning for SEN provision for the 2026-27 academic year is already underway, with ongoing engagement with schools in the highest-need areas identified as a priority. The EA plans to meet NAHT representatives and other trade unions soon to discuss mechanisms for improved engagement with school leaders to better anticipate and respond to demand.
Despite recent efforts that have created over 6,000 additional SEN places between 2020 and 2025, including 1,374 places added for the 2025 school year, the EA continues to face significant pressure to meet growing demand. Chief Executive Richard Pengelly has urged more schools to develop specialist provision classes to meet the increasing number of children requiring support. He warned that without these additional provisions, children and their parents risk being let down.
Concurrently, a major review commissioned by the Department for Education and conducted by Ipsos has underscored the systemic challenges facing SEN support in Northern Ireland, describing early intervention for children with SEN as “almost impossible.” The report revealed that the cost of funding special educational needs—including support for pupils, special schools, and transport—has risen to approximately £500 million annually. It recommended reforms intended to improve efficiency and outcomes, including redefining the role of classroom assistants and broader SEN system changes.
In response to these findings, Education Minister Paul Givan announced a £1.2 million Pre-School Education Inclusion Support Fund to assist early years settings with children undergoing statutory SEN assessments. This pilot fund provides £750 per month per class to support additional staffing, therapeutic interventions, or specialist equipment, reflecting a strategic effort to bolster early support for SEN children.
However, tensions remain regarding the willingness of some schools to expand specialist SEN classes. A senior Department of Education official disclosed to Stormont’s Education Committee that over 100 schools have refused to create new specialist classes. This has exacerbated pressures on the system, with more than 1,000 additional places needed for children with SEN as of September 2024. In May, Minister Givan indicated he might compel schools to establish the necessary provision if voluntary cooperation failed, highlighting the urgency and political sensitivity of the issue.
The crisis in SEN provision reflects deeper, systemic underinvestment and organisational challenges within Northern Ireland’s education system. The NAHT letter and responses from the EA indicate a shared recognition of these issues and a commitment to more collaborative, forward-planning approaches. Yet, balancing resource constraints, school capacities, and political will remains a complex task crucial to securing equitable educational opportunities for children with SEN in the coming years.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is recent, dated 15 September 2025. The earliest known publication date of similar content is 25 June 2025, when the Education Authority called for urgent school support to address significant SEN pressures. ([eani.org.uk](https://www.eani.org.uk/news/education-authority-calls-for-urgent-school-support-to-address-significant-sen-pressures?utm_source=openai)) The report is based on an open letter from the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The direct quotes from Graham Gault, the national secretary of the NAHT, are unique to this report. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content. No variations in quote wording were found.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Irish News, a reputable organisation. The NAHT is a legitimate and verifiable entity. The Education Authority (EA) is also a credible organisation.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about the SEN crisis in Northern Ireland are consistent with previous reports, such as the BBC News article from 11 April 2024, which reported that more than 100 schools refused to create new specialist classes for children with SEN. ([bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-68784756?utm_source=openai)) The narrative lacks specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates, which reduces the score and flags it as potentially synthetic. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic. The structure includes excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim, which may be a distraction tactic. The tone is unusually dramatic, vague, and doesn’t resemble typical corporate or official language, which warrants further scrutiny.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative is recent and based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. The quotes are unique and the sources are reputable. However, the lack of specific factual anchors and the inclusion of excessive or off-topic detail raise concerns about the narrative’s authenticity and potential bias. The unusually dramatic tone further warrants scrutiny.
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