Statement on decision to cancel special school summer schemes for 2026

Chris Quinn, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY), has today raised urgent concerns with the Ministers for Education and Health following the Education Authority’s (EA) decision to cancel special school summer schemes for 2026.

Over recent days, NICCY has heard from distressed parents, carers, school leaders and children who say this decision will have a severe impact on the wellbeing of children and their families. Many have described it as “devastating for families”, with parents explaining that their children rely on the schemes for routine, stability, social interaction, and a safe, supportive environment during the long summer break. These schemes are of vital importance for children with disabilities, with recreational spaces and programmes in local communities often being inaccessible.

Public reporting shows families fear the loss of essential respite and worry about managing complex needs without support. Some parents have warned that the decision has “the potential to cause breakdowns for families”, highlighting that many already struggle through the long summer period without structured provision for their children.

The EA has said the cancellation is linked to concerns about the availability of adequate healthcare and nursing cover for vulnerable children, following months of engagement with the Department of Health.

The Commissioner said: “This is a deeply worrying situation. I have written to both Ministers to make clear that this decision has significant consequences for children’s rights, inclusion, and wellbeing. The abrupt withdrawal – without alternatives or meaningful engagement with families – shows us that the systems designed to protect and support children are not working as they should.”

He emphasised that the decision raises serious concerns about whether the best interests of the child, a core principle of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), have been properly considered.

The Commissioner said: “Every child has the right to play, rest, leisure and recreation. For children with disabilities, the state has a duty to provide the support they need to participate in their communities on an equal basis. The cancellation of summer schemes undermines these rights at the very moment when families most rely on them.

“This situation illustrates a broader problem: our laws, policies and spending decisions are not sufficiently protecting the most vulnerable children. When budgets are tight, children with the greatest needs must not be the first to lose essential services. This is exactly why the full and direct incorporation of the UNCRC into Northern Ireland law is so important. It would ensure children’s rights are upheld in practice – not only in principle – and that their best interests are never an afterthought.”

The Commissioner stressed that the Children’s Services Co‑operation Act (NI) 2015 requires public bodies to work together to improve the wellbeing of children. The breakdown in coordination – and a lack of forward planning – between Education and Health in this instance highlights why those duties must be strengthened and properly enforced.

The Commissioner said: “Families should never be placed in the middle of departmental disagreements or service gaps. When essential supports collapse, it is children – especially those with the most complex needs – who pay the price. This must not be allowed to continue.”

NICCY has called on Ministers to work together immediately with the EA to:

• Re-examine the decision;
• Provide alternative or emergency support this summer; and
• Put in place a long‑term rights‑based system that guarantees children the services they need.

The Commissioned concluded: “This is a clear warning sign. Our systems must be strengthened. Our laws must better protect children. And decision‑makers must be held accountable to the rights of every child in Northern Ireland. Only through the full incorporation of the UNCRC can we ensure decisions like this never again leave children and families without the support they depend on.”