Consistent with the Framework for Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools and the Special Education Strategic Area Plan 2022-27: Planning for Special Education Provision, and, through the associated Operational Plan 1: 2022-24 and Operational Plan 2: 2024-26, a number of short and medium term workstreams for Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools were identified.
The priorities within Operational Plan 2: 2024-26 are to ensure that there is sufficient capacity as well as seeking to address geographical, sectoral and linguistic inconsistencies, however, there still exists Special Educational Needs pressures and demand for places continues to grow on an annual basis. Therefore, the Area Planning Team will continue to work with the Special Educational Needs Capacity Team to ensure that in establishing Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools that these are considered as part of a robust consultation process under the new agile and flexible arrangements for establishing, changing and/or closing Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools.
The consultation to establish, close or change specialist provision in mainstream schools dovetails with the Education Authority’s Annual Plan of Arrangements as part of the implementation of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (2016) and Code of Practice. As part of this consultation, members of the public may wish to access the consultation via the Annual Plan of Arrangements webpage on the Education Authority’s Special Educational Needs website.
In working towards meeting the demand for Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools, the Education Authority wishes to engage with the governors, staff, pupils and parents of the identified schools, as well as affected schools and to consult on the formal approval of Specialist Provision in Mainstream classes in the schools below.
A paper outlining the proposal as well as an assessment of the school is provided below. The individual school paper should be read in conjunction with the Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools - Overview document.