Education Minister publishes SEN Policy Statement

Date published: 28 August 2025

The statement provides a clear SEN policy position, outlines the legislation that underpins it and defines the responsibilities of key stakeholders across the education system. It aligns with the Children and Young People’s Strategy, the Programme for Government and recent TransformED Strategy which aims to ensure our education system is truly world leading, excellent, equitable, inclusive and able to meet the needs of all children and young people in an ever-changing world.

Welcoming the new Policy Statement, Paul Givan said: 

“The facts are clear: nearly one in five pupils in Northern Ireland has been identified as having a Special Educational Need. We must ensure our services, staff and systems are equipped and empowered to deliver effectively for the growing number of children requiring support to thrive.  Having a Statement which clearly sets out legislative requirements and policy objectives, provides the framework within which the effectiveness of current support models can be assessed and, where appropriate, changed to better meet the needs of children with SEN.

“Throughout the End to End Review of SEN, parents and many stakeholders called for more clarity on the policy position on SEN. This Policy Statement is about making the existing framework, grounded in legislation, guided by the Code of Practice and implemented across the education and health systems, work more effectively and consistently for every child and family.”

The SEN Policy Statement delivers on the commitment in the SEN Reform Agenda to deliver clarity on the current policy and legislation.

Paul Givan continued: 

“We are placing children and young people at the centre of this work. Their voices and their rights matter. We are committed to working in partnership with families, educators, health professionals and the wider community to ensure that every child with SEN can access an education that is inclusive, ambitious and tailored to their individual needs.”

The Minister concluded: 

“I want to thank everyone who contributed to the development of this Policy Statement. It reflects our shared commitment to inclusion, equity and excellence in education.”

For more information on the SEN Policy Statement and SEN Reform Agenda, please visit – https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/sen-reform-agenda.