By Julie Waters
NORTH Down MP Alex Easton has called on the Education Minister to ‘urgently’ address the ‘growing crisis’ in special educational needs provision across the borough.
Mr Easton warned that local families are being placed under ‘enormous pressure’ after a Bangor mum was only offered one special educational needs (SEN) school place for her four year-old twin sons Alfie and Archie.
The Independent MP has urged the Education Minister to intervene amidst growing concerns over long waiting times for assessments, shortages of specialist school places and mounting strain on mainstream schools struggling to meet demand.
Nicky Moore contacted Mr Easton after the Education Authority (EA) told her only one specialist place was available for her twin boys Alfie and Archie.
The EA has asked Ms Moore to consider sending the twins to school in Belfast but the Bangor mum says this is unworkable given the boys’ communication, emotional and behavioural issues.
Mr Easton warned that local families are being ‘failed’ by a ‘struggling system’ and said it was ‘unacceptable’ that families were being ‘left fearful’ their children may not have a school place for the new school year in September.
“Families across North Down and Ards are being failed by a system that is clearly struggling to cope with demand,” he said. “It is completely unacceptable that parents are left fearing their children may not even have a suitable school place by September.
“In this particular case, twins Alfie and Archie have complex needs and should not be separated or expected to travel unreasonable distances simply because there are not enough local SEN places available.
“The fact that the family has been told to consider Belfast highlights the severe shortage of specialist provision within our own borough. Parents should not have to fight this hard just to secure appropriate education for their children.”
Mr Easton said he was also ‘deeply concerned’ at reports of two to three year waiting times for autism and ADHD assessments at the Scrabo Centre in Newtownards.
“Early intervention is absolutely critical for children with additional needs, and these delays risk having a long-term impact on both the children and their families.”
Mr Easton said urgent action is needed from both the Education Authority and the Department of Education to increase SEN capacity locally and reduce assessment waiting times.
“There needs to be immediate intervention from the Education Minister to ensure more SEN school places are created across North Down and Ards,” he said. “The current situation is placing enormous emotional and financial pressure on families who are already facing very difficult circumstances.
“Every child deserves access to appropriate education and support within a reasonable distance from their home. Local families deserve far better than this.”
