Derry MLA criticises cuts to special needs school staff as 'mindboggling'

SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan has criticised a decision to half funding for dedicated school support staff for pupils with special educational needs (SEN) as a ‘thoughtless cost cutting exercise.’

The Department for Education has reduced funding from £22 million last year to £11 million for 2023/24. Mr Durkan said the move will prove catastrophic for children, families and schools.   

The Foyle MLA said: “If there’s one priority area that we should be devoting more attention and resource to within education, it’s special educational needs. Review after review demonstrates the value of early intervention to help kids who need additional support in the classroom – the latest of which came only last month.

“So it’s mindboggling to learn that funding for SEN coordinators will be slashed in half. This will have an immediate and devastating impact on schools and the 66,000 children with additional needs who rely on this support.  

“SEN provision was already operating under a £116 million shortfall- significant investment is needed to sustain sector. The decision to reduce already limited support will inflict long lasting damage which will be felt for years to come.  

“I hear constantly from parents about the heartbreaking and, indeed, frustrating situation facing their children struggling in a class of their peers without the additional support they require.

“Sadly, today’s decision will compound existing challenges and will see children left behind. It is unforgivable that vulnerable children are bearing the brunt of political stalemate.   

“I’ve written to the department asking them to outline how they reached their decision and to clarify whether an equality impact assessment was completed before cutting this critical support.”