News

Time spent by children in special needs nurseries could be cut

The plans could see the hours some children spend in special school nurseries cut
The plans could see the hours some children spend in special school nurseries cut The plans could see the hours some children spend in special school nurseries cut

THE length of time children spend in special school nurseries is facing a cut.

The Education Authority (EA) has published for consultation, a new framework designed to transform services for children with special educational needs in the early years.

Some pre-school pupils spend 4.5 hours a day in school.

The EA is now proposing all children attend "for a minimum of 15 hours per week" in future.

Each EA special school nursery would establish capacity at around eight children per class, the consultation adds, although there will be "flexibility to meet the individual needs of the child".

The proposals have been made at the end of a review which was initiated two years ago by former education minister John O'Dowd.

It was launched after the body apologised to parents for how it has handled plans to cut hours from 4.5 to 2.5 hours a day.

Dr Clare Mangan, EA's Director of Children and Young People's Services, said the new plans set out how the authority would like to provide more choices for children through additional and extended support in mainstream schools and the creation of new Early Years' SEN Centres.

"One of our key priorities is also to ensure that every child who requires a pre-school place in a special school can get one," she added.

"We want all special school nurseries to provide a minimum of 15 hours per week for children with the most complex needs and we want to ensure that schools have the right staff to support the diverse and changing needs of the children."

EA Chief Executive, Gavin Boyd said the new framework considered the range of needs children may have and "aims to ensure that there are options available that meet those needs".