Women's Policy Group Welcomes Ambition of Refreshed SEN Framework but Warns Delivery Requires Significant Investment

3‍ August 2026 - The WRDA led Women's Policy Group Northern Ireland (WPG NI) has welcomed the Education Authority's vision to expand Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision across schools but has warned that the framework risks remaining aspirational unless accompanied by substantial investment, improved support for schools, and faster assessment processes for children and young people. You can read the full consultation here.

The WPG NI highlighted significant practical barriers that schools currently face, including staffing pressures, ageing and inaccessible school buildings, limited budgets, and lengthy delays in SEN assessments and statementing processes. The WPG is calling for a comprehensive mapping exercise to identify existing specialist provision, geographical gaps, and areas where schools are already providing support without formal specialist designation. The group argues that such evidence is essential for targeting resources effectively and ensuring equitable access to SEN provision across Northern Ireland.

While the WPG NI agrees that the framework aligns with the Department of Education's broader SEN reform agenda and Five-Year Delivery Plan, achieving the framework's objectives will require clear actions to identify gaps in provision and provide the support necessary to address them.

-ENDS-

For more information contact:

Elaine Crory

Women's Sector Lobbyist, WRDA

Email: elaine.crory@wrda.net