Nine Special Educational Needs (SEN) ‘Transformation’ projects – receiving funding from a £27.5 million pot – will be divided into two “strands”, according to the Education Minister.
The projects are to be provided for by ring-fenced funding received from the Interim Public Services Transformation Board.
The Minister, Paul Givan was asked to detail the cost breakdown for the transformation projects Upper Bann Alliance MLA Eoin Tennyson.
In terms of costings, the Minister explained: “The costings for each project are indicative and subject to change as the projects progress, with some subject to final proposals from delivery partners.
“The working detail of costings are not planned for publication; however, there will be full transparency and accountability on expenditure.”
Elaborating on the projects’ focus across two strands the Minister provided some detail for the developments within each.
Within Strand 1, entitled ‘Right Support at the Right Time for Children & Young People & Parents/Families’ the Minister explained there will be “focuses on early intervention” and that the strand “includes seven projects to be developed and trialled which will test outcomes for children with emerging SEN”.
The projects include Transforming the Statutory Assessment Process; Transformation of Support Model; Establish and deliver a pilot Early Childhood SEN Intervention Programme; Establish and deliver a pilot Speech, Language & Communications Intervention Toolkit & Programme; Transforming Inclusive Play Environments; Adopt and trial the Early Intervention Nurture Programme into an Enhanced ‘Nurture Plus’ Programme and a pilot scheme for Special Schools as Resource Centres of Expertise will also be implemented.
The Minister added that Strand 2, entitled ‘Right People’ focuses on “building a skilled and confident workforce and includes two pilots”.
The pilots schemes are to Design & Trial a Teacher & Classroom Assistant Professional Learning Programme and Design & Trial an Inclusive Capacity Building Programme.
While the projects focus heavily on educational support – rather than direct healthcare – The Department of Health did publish a detailed report on October 8, 2025 reviewing the population health needs of children with complex medical conditions attending Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools across Northern Ireland.
The review was commissioned in late 2024 and involved engagement with SEN school principals, parents, and other key stakeholders.
It provides a detailed assessment of the healthcare challenges faced by pupils, the complexity of their needs, and the support systems required to deliver timely, child-specific care.
Addressing the report’s findings Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt acknowledged “significant regional variations” in healthcare provision for children with complex needs in SEN schools, adding: “It is clear that further work is required to ensure equitable and timely access to appropriate healthcare services for all children.”
Chief Nursing Officer Maria McIlgorm thanked the report’s authors for the work completed to date and acknowledged the further work necessary, with particular emphasis on the need for “multi-disciplinary” team engagement.
She said: “This report highlights the need for partnership working, within multi-disciplinary teams and across government, to meet the complex health needs of these children,” she said.
“We acknowledge this and will continue to work in partnership to ensure children receive comprehensive, timely, multi-disciplinary support tailored to meet their assessed individual healthcare needs.”
