The Lagan Valley MLA spoke out following the report that nineteen children with Special Educational Needs were set to start Oakwood School in Saintfield, but the building work has not yet been completed. 

Ms Guy said: “The Independent Autism Reviewer has highlighted the stark reality that once again we have another example of young people being denied their right to an education simply because they have special educational needs.

“I will be contacting the Education Authority to establish if these children were deemed to ‘have a school place’ despite them having no school to attend due to ongoing construction work. If that is the case, then it calls into question how accurate the figures the Department of Education and EA are presenting and if there are other children in the same situation.

“Furthermore, I agree with the Independent Autism Reviewer that the judgement of the Education Minister is under question. In a matter of weeks, we have had the Minister engaging with an umbrella organisation for active paramilitary groups and approving £250k capital spend on ‘magnetic lockable pouches’ for pupils' mobile phones.

“I fully appreciate that the budget situation is incredibly difficult, but these instances highlight a pattern of poor judgement by this Minister while the priority needs to be on the young people who still don’t have a school place.”