Ministers do a U-turn and welcome solution enabling Special School Summer Schemes to proceed
There is some good news for parents with Special Needs children following the U-turn by Minister after indicating there was to be no support for SEN children for summer schools.
There was a huge reaction against this decision and the Ministers with the help of the Education Authority managed to defuse the ongoing row that was building up.
The Education Minister and the Health Minister today confirmed that, following intensive engagement between both Departments and the Education Authority (EA), a solution has been secured that will allow special school summer schemes to proceed this year.
The Department of Health has confirmed that nursing support will be provided at every summer scheme location. This ensures that essential clinical oversight will be in place and offers a workable and timely way forward, enabling the schemes to operate as planned.
Welcoming the announcement, Education Minister Paul Givan said: “Special school summer schemes play a vital role in supporting children and young people with complex needs, offering continuity of care and essential support for families.
“After intense and constructive engagement today, a solution has now been agreed.
“The Education Authority will now work closely with special school principals to urgently progress detailed planning and preparation for the delivery of the schemes.
“This was the outcome that we wanted for families, however the safety and well-being of children and young people was our concern. I am pleased that we have now been able to find a way forward.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt added: “I am pleased to confirm that nursing support can now be made available at each special school summer scheme site.
“We will continue to work with all partners to develop and a robust, sustainable, year-round model of health care support for special schools.
“This long-term work aims to provide greater stability, strengthen provision and ensure that the needs of children with complex medical requirements are consistently and appropriately met.”
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McGrath says Ministers needed to work together to resolve delivery of special school summer schemes
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has just one hour ago (at 5pm) called on the Ministers for health and education to work together and deliver special school summer schemes.
Subsequently the Education and Health MInister have managed to turn the situation round for the better. Great news for parents and children affected!
South Down MLA Colin McGrath said: “People were rightly outraged at the decision to cancel summer schemes for special schools. This would have thrown many families’ summer plans into disarray, depriving them of much-needed respite and vulnerable young people of the opportunity to take part in these valuable schemes.
“The SDLP supported the petition to recall the Assembly next week, but families and people with special educational needs (SEN) didn’t need MLAs talking about this at Stormont – they needed action from the Executive, the and to ensure the necessary nursing staff are in place and allow these schemes to go ahead.
“We cannot continue with a situation where Executive parties accept no responsibility and pretend they do not have power in their hands. Instead of criticising from the sidelines, Sinn Féin and the Alliance Party should clarify if their representatives on the Education Authority board knew about this decision.
“The Ministers for Education and Health have now worked together to find a solution. Political grandstanding was not necessary.”
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Education Minister’s initial failure to deliver schemes for children in special schools is ‘unacceptable’ says Mason
Sinn Féin South Down MLA Cathy Mason has slammed the DUP Education Minister for failing to deliver summer schemes for children in special schools this summer and reversing this decision.
The South Down MLA said: “It was 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, such as those in Knockevin and Ardmore, 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.”
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Burrows welcomes confirmation that Special School summer schemes will go ahead
Ulster Unionist Party Leader and Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA has welcomed confirmation that Special School summer schemes will go ahead.
Jon Burrows MLA said: “I warmly welcome the confirmation from both the Ministers of Health and Education that the Summer Schemes at Special Schools will go ahead this summer. These schemes provide vital structure and respite for children with complex additional needs and their families, and their continuation is absolutely the right outcome.
“Today I met with officials from the Education Authority to press for an urgent resolution and made clear the imperative of finding solutions immediately. I know from direct engagement that our Health Minister has been working hard to get this issue resolved following the EA’s distressing announcement yesterday.
“However, this situation should never have arisen in the first place.
“The EA’s decision to announce the cancellation of these schemes on a Thursday, just before the Easter recess, was completely unnecessary and caused avoidable distress and uncertainty for families and schools.
“This episode highlights the pressing need for a comprehensive review of the EA’s workforce arrangements and training, to ensure we have adequately trained staff available to support our most vulnerable children throughout the academic year, including during the summer period. Their request for nurses to support SEN summer schemes clearly stems from issues within their current staffing model.
“I have therefore written to the Education Minister to formally raise this matter and to call for action on long-term planning in this area.
“The Ulster Unionist Party will continue to stand up for children with special educational needs and their families. We must learn from this episode and put in place the proper systems to ensure such uncertainty is never repeated.”
