Minister looking at ‘contingency plans’ for special school summer scheme

Contingency plans to cover special school summer schemes are being examined, the Health Minister said, after it was announced that the programme would be called off this year.

It emerged on Thursday that the schemes, which provide support for children with additional needs over the summer, would not go ahead in 2026 over concerns about the healthcare available for pupils.

An Assembly committee heard on Thursday that families are “spitting fire” over the decision.

The Education Authority said it had attempted to avoid the move through repeated engagement with the Department of Health.

It said it had “made clear” that on-site nursing cover would be required for summer schemes to be held safely.

However, the authority said the department had confirmed this will not be available.

The Department of Health has said every summer scheme does not require an onsite registered nurse.

In a statement, the Education Authority said: “This decision has been taken solely on safety grounds.

“We deeply regret it and fully understand that it will be very distressing for children and parents.”

The authority acknowledged the pressures facing the health service, and said it would continue to work to resolve the issue of healthcare provision for special school pupils.

It said its view was that “consistent province-wide and year-round nurse-led provision for all special schools is required”.

It added: “Its current absence, in the context of greater complexity of health needs, has created growing pressures and concerns for the welfare of children in term time.

“The risks are much greater in the summer months when there is inevitably reduced staffing availability for summer schemes, with the schools themselves being closed.”

At the Assembly’s Health Committee on Thursday, SDLP MLA Colin McGrath said “that little bit of comfort for parents” and “opportunity for those children” had been “thrown away”.

He said “those summer schemes must happen” and added that families were “spitting fire” over the decision.

He questioned the minister on what would be done for vulnerable children who will have two months without structured activity due to “cutbacks from the Department of Health”.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said the programme was a two-week scheme, but Mr McGrath replied that the school break means children go two months without provision.

The minister told the committee: “We are looking at contingency plans to cover that period.

“But I think it’s just very disappointing that those summer schools are being suspended.”

The UUP MLA said he was “trying to understand” what has changed since last year and added he was “surprised to hear that announcement coming today”.

Mr Nesbitt said one of the issues is that the Department of Education, led by DUP minister Paul Givan, was “not aware of the qualifications of all their classroom assistants”.

He said he had proposed that such assistants on 52-week contracts could be switched to look after summer schemes.

Mr Nesbitt said: “I’m not quite sure why we have given up so early on with the summer still some months away.”

Mr McGrath said it sounded like Mr Nesbitt was having “a bit of a row” with and “passing the buck” to the Education Minister over the terms of classroom assistants.

Mr Nesbitt said the characterisation was “deeply unfair” and “just wrong”.

“I’m saying that an official from the Department of Education said they didn’t have full knowledge of the qualifications of the classroom assistants.

“That’s just a fact – that’s not poking at anybody.”

Mr McGrath replied: “It’s farcical that one end of our Executive doesn’t know what the other is doing, and in one end of the Executive, you’re saying the staff don’t even know the qualifications of the staff that work for them.”

Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health Mike Farrar called the EA’s decision “highly regrettable”.

“SEN summer schools have been running successfully and safely in Northern Ireland for several years with nursing support which did not include onsite nursing presence in all sites.

“Of the full cohort of children attending special schools (around 7,500), around 1,500 are identified as requiring additional support for complex healthcare needs.

“Based on clinical advice, the safe delivery of these summer schemes does not require onsite registered nursing provision in all sites.

“We have advised that in previous years the CCNs (community children’s nurses) provided additional training and support to classroom assistants who work on the summer schemes and we have offered to provide that at an enhanced level.

“The CCNs provide healthcare support to children with complex healthcare needs within the community including those requiring palliative care as well as providing support to children attending SEN schools.”

He said around 80% of children who attend SEN schools do not have complex healthcare needs requiring CCN intervention.

“The cancellation of these schemes will also directly lead to pressure on already stretched respite services for a significant number of these children who have very complex needs and we fully acknowledge and appreciate the concerns that families will understandably have.

“We remain committed to supporting schools to address the health needs of children with special educational needs and work is ongoing to consider the best model for nursing provision in special schools.

“We will make every effort to ensure that alternative support can be put in place to lessen the impact of the EA decision.”

Sinn Fein’s Cathy Mason called for ministers to “find a solution”.

In a statement she said: “It is unacceptable that the health and education ministers could not come up with a solution to continue this much-needed provision this summer.

“These special school summer schemes are a lifeline for many families, providing vital respite and important support for children with complex needs.

“In recent days we have seen the Education Minister attempt to deflect from his failings in improving the education system. Instead he should be focused on protecting the most vulnerable in our society.

“I will be writing to both ministers to challenge this decision and to press them to get their heads together and find a solution that works for these children, their families and their schools.”

TUV councillor Matthew Armstrong, who is the father of a child with additional needs, said the schemes are a “vital part of the holiday season” and described the announcement as “totally unacceptable”.

The Ballymena representative added: “Whatever the truth, and whoever to blame, it is outrageous and leaves some of the most vulnerable children in society in the lurch.”