Ulster Unionist Party Leader and Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA has welcomed confirmation that Special School summer schemes will go ahead.

Jon Burrows MLA said:

“I warmly welcome the confirmation from both the Ministers of Health and Education that the Summer Schemes at Special Schools will go ahead this summer. These schemes provide vital structure and respite for children with complex additional needs and their families, and their continuation is absolutely the right outcome.

“Today I met with officials from the Education Authority to press for an urgent resolution and made clear the imperative of finding solutions immediately. I know from direct engagement that our Health Minister has been working hard to get this issue resolved following the EA’s distressing announcement yesterday.

“However, this situation should never have arisen in the first place. The EA’s decision to announce the cancellation of these schemes on a Thursday, just before the Easter recess, was completely unnecessary and caused avoidable distress and uncertainty for families and schools.

“This episode highlights the pressing need for a comprehensive review of the EA’s workforce arrangements and training, to ensure we have adequately trained staff available to support our most vulnerable children throughout the academic year, including during the summer period. Their request for nurses to support SEN summer schemes clearly stems from issues within their current staffing model.

“I have therefore written to the Education Minister to formally raise this matter and to call for action on long term planning in this area.

“The Ulster Unionist Party will continue to stand up for children with special educational needs and their families. We must learn from this episode and put in place the proper systems to ensure such uncertainty is never repeated.”