McIlveen announces £6.1million for special educational needs and disabilities transformation programme

Education Minister Michelle McIlveen has announced an allocation of £6.1million to help transform educational provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities across Northern Ireland.

Education Minister said that families of children entitled to free school meals will get a school holiday food grant.

Part of an ambitious programme to improve outcomes for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, the funding has been allocated to the Education Authority to drive forward progress on a range of targeted projects to help deliver positive change. 

Education Minister Michelle McIlveen said:

“Our children with special educational needs and disabilities deserve a high quality education which meets their individual needs. We must work together to ensure that services and support are designed and delivered to help each child live happy healthy and fulfilled lives. No one should be left behind.

“Transformational change and a reformed system is necessary to meet increasing demands on services and improve outcomes of children and young people with special educational needs. My Department has been working with the Education Authority to drive forward this critical work and the £6.1million funding I am announcing today will enable further progress.”

The Minister continued:

“Providing the right support and achieving the best possible outcomes for children and young people will remain a priority while the transformation of services takes place.” 

Notes to editors: 

1. The £6.1m of earmarked funding has been made available by the Department of Education to support the Education Authority’s Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Transformation Programme during 2022/2023.
2. The Programme seeks to address the majority of recommendations (150+) made in numerous reviews and scrutiny reports in relation to SEN.
3. Thirteen first wave projects have been identified (Six led by the Department of Education and seven led by EA). 
4. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office at Press.Office@education-ni.gov.uk .
5. The Executive Information Service operates an out-of-hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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