Commissioner’s statement on today’s Post-19 Special Educational Needs (SEN) Support Assembly motion

“I welcome today’s Post-19 Special Educational Needs (SEN) Support Assembly motion. My office and I have strongly advocated for legislative change on this matter and, on the day that new Department of Health (DoH) figures report that one in 16 schoolchildren in Northern Ireland have a diagnosis of autism, and at a time when waiting lists for diagnosis are at alarming levels, the need for reform is the SEN system that delivers meaningful outcomes for children is greater than ever.

“We want to see the legislative gap plugged to ensure children and young people have pathways that recognise their rights as per the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child UNCRC Articles 28 (right to education) and 29 (goals of education). As the latter states, education must develop every child’s personality, talents and abilities to their fullest potential. This requires not only an inclusive policy from the Department of Education (DE), but also legislative action by the Department for the Economy (DfE) to ensure appropriate further education provision for children with SEND, alongside a shared responsibility across all departments to work collaboratively to safeguard children’s wellbeing in line with the Children’s Services Co-operation Act.

“I fully support today’s motion which recognises that the current post-19 SEN provision in NI lags significantly behind other jurisdictions and calls on the Executive to bring forward legislation which ensures consistent, high-quality provision for young people between the ages of 19 and 25.”