The Partnership for Inclusive Education (PIE), a coalition of CiNI’s member organisations, has published its response to the Department of Education’s Special Educational Needs (SEN) Reform Agenda and Delivery Plan 2025–2030. The Partnership welcomes the renewed focus on inclusion and early intervention but warns that reform will only succeed if it is properly resourced, rights-based, and co-designed with children, families, and the professionals who support them.
The group supports the Department’s guiding principle of delivering the Right Support, from the Right People, at the Right Time and in the Right Place, but stresses that this must go beyond rhetoric. It calls for reforms to be grounded in children’s rights and equality obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The report identifies several areas of concern, including:
- underinvestment and workforce shortages
- systemic challenges around mental health, reduced timetables and non-attendance
- lack of consultation and legal clarity
Recommendations cover areas such as:
- early intervention and transition support
- integrated workforce strategy
- statutory framework for reduced timetables
- cross-departmental collaboration, and outcome and accountability measures
The Partnership emphasises that effective reform will depend on collaboration across all sectors. This includes not only statutory bodies like the Department of Education and the Education Authority but also voluntary and community organisations that provide early help, family support, and advocacy.
The Partnership for Inclusive Education and CiNI reaffirm their commitment to working with government and stakeholders to ensure that every child with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Northern Ireland can access the support they need to reach their full potential.
To read the full response click here
