Education Authority sets out planned educational reform to enhance classroom support for children with SEN

The Enhanced Support Model will give schools greater flexibility and freedom to shape SEN classroom support to meet the individual needs of pupils within their communities.

It will also provide greater opportunities for classroom assistants in terms of career and specialist skill development.

Details of the Enhanced Support Model have been provided in an EA briefing paper.

It is to be introduced in a phased process over a number of years, starting later this year.

The briefing document states: “Studies looking at the provision of SEN support for children and young people in Northern Ireland have consistently described a system that delivers poorer outcomes than other jurisdictions. We cannot accept this and therefore must find a way that focusses on delivering the best possible outcomes for our children and young people.”

Among the issues highlighted by the document are the experiences of families who have described the SEN system as “frustrating, stressful, and confusing”, while schools report that it is becoming increasingly difficult to support children with SEN.

It also noted that in September 2025, 34,011 pupils had a statement of SEN – an increase of 85 percent in 10 years, adding: “This creates a huge pressure on schools, teachers and the wider education sector. It shows the need of our population is growing and changing and we must have systems and practices to meet this need.”

Key features of the Enhanced Support Model are:

- Focus on needs: statements of SEN will specify functional needs and the specialist actions required;

- School-led delivery: school leaders will determine how to deliver support, in line with essential standards overseen by EA;

- Capability-building at the centre: pupils’ skills and independence will be the focus of staff;

- Creation of professionalised support staff: tiered specialist roles will create specialism and career progression.

The briefing document can be read online at www.eani.org.uk/news/ea-sets-out-new-classroom-support-model.

The first phase of the reform will take shape this summer, with a finalised model published following co-production and consultation, and new guidance for statutory assessment and statements.

The EA briefing document adds: “The overriding objective for reforming the current classroom model is to achieve better outcomes for our children and young people.

“This should not be characterised as a measure to cut costs or reduce the current number of classroom assistants. Of course, in the current financial climate, all policy decisions have a budgetary dimension and failure to deliver change to the current model of support will have a very significant financial consequence. If this continues unchecked, the SEN budget will rise to £991m – £1.07bn by 2030/31.

“This would have major consequences for budgets for both SEN services and wider educational provision. If the EA was convinced that the current classroom model was best suited to the needs of our children and young people with SEN, then we would make the case for meeting the escalating costs."