The South Belfast MLA was speaking following a briefing to MLAs from the Education Authority (EA) in Stormont today (Tuesday), where it was stated the EA could not guarantee all of those children would receive a place before the start of the new school year.

Ms Nicholl said local children are being failed by the annual crisis in SEN education and called on the Education Minister to prioritise reform and investment in the sector.

“While progress has been made, it is unacceptable 120 children are still awaiting confirmation of a place, with only a matter of weeks before the new school year begins,” she said.

“The annual crisis in special school placement is having devastating consequences for families across Northern Ireland and I am regularly contacted by desperate parents who don’t know where to turn. They will be extremely concerned the EA could not provide a guarantee at today’s briefing that every child who is currently waiting for a place will receive one before September 1.

“It is to be welcomed new family support link officers have been put in place to work with unplaced children, but there are just three of these staff in post for a caseload of 120 and, regardless of the ratio, there is a limit to how much help they can provide if there ultimately aren’t enough suitable school places for every SEN child.

“Our special schools have been over-capacity and under-resourced for far too long. This is leaving children without the quality education and holistic support they need to achieve their full potential. We are failing these young people and depriving them of the education every child should have by right.

“Alliance has called time and again for the Education Minister to prioritise the needs of SEN pupils and deliver the transformation, workforce and capacity needed to meet demand. We will continue to engage with the Department, the EA and the wider sector until this ambition is realised.”