Education Minister publishes SEN Reform Agenda and Delivery Plan

Date published: 4 February 2025

The publications set out an ambitious programme of reform of services and provision to support children and young people with special educational needs. This follows the Minister’s recent announcement in the Assembly about the Reform programme.

Paul Givan said: “This is the most ambitious programme of SEN reform in a generation. The SEN Reform Agenda and five-year Delivery Plan set out the actions that are needed to ensure that children and young people with SEN can benefit from greater inclusion and receive the right support from the right people at the right time and in the right place.

“They have been developed with input from parents, practitioners and academics and engagement will continue as we move into implementation.”

Acknowledging the urgency of change within the programme, Paul Givan continued: “We know that our children cannot wait, and that change is needed now. With that in mind, the Delivery Plan sets out short-term actions which are intended to rebuild confidence and trust with parents, build capability across the workforce, improve the approach to placements, focus on child centred communications and a more child centred approach to support.

“SEN transformation is a key priority for the Executive. It is an investment not only for education but for our society and delivering on the agenda will require sustained funding. I am committed to driving forward this agenda during this mandate.”

The Minister concluded: “I want to ensure that the direction I am taking will deliver better outcomes for children and young people with SEN. The SEN Reform Agenda will therefore be supported by a clear, measurable and co-designed outcomes framework which will allow my department to systematically monitor any changes being made across the system.”

The SEN Reform Agenda and five-year Delivery Plan can be accessed on the DE Website at: www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/sen-reform-agenda