General Teaching Council Northern Ireland

Every School a Good School: The Way Forward for Special Educational Needs and Inclusion

Northern Ireland Executive

Education Minster, Caitríona Ruane, has launched a 12 week consultation on the Department of Education’s Review of Special Educational Needs and Inclusion.

In opening the much awaited consultation the Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, said: “Over 18% of our school population has a special educational need and up to one in four experiences greater difficulties in learning and progressing than their peers. These policy proposals aim to both strengthen the current provision for our children with special educational needs and address the growing diversity of need in our schools. Raising standards for all children is at the heart of all my Department’s policies.”

The Minister further said: “I want to establish a robust and accountable framework that identifies children’s learning needs as early as possible and provides support for them. Therefore, set in an overarching inclusive framework aimed at raising educational outcomes, the key themes of the proposals are: a continuum of provision for a diversity of need; early identification and intervention; capacity building in schools; consistency of provision; improved multi-disciplinary and inter-agency working; and sharing of expertise to spread best practice.”

“I look forward to receiving views and comments on the proposals from parents, pupils, professionals and others with an interest in this vitally important area.”