Newtownabbey school’s commitment to ‘inclusive education’ lauded as two new specialist provision classes opened
Earlview Primary School has been hailed for its commitment to the provision of an inclusive education environment.
It follows the official opening of two new specialist provision classes at the Newtownabbey school, offering dedicated support for pupils with special educational needs (SEN).
One class is for children with severe learning difficulties and the other for those with social and communication learning difficulties.
The new classes provide children from the surrounding communities with a supportive learning environment to help them feel confident and happy in their educational journey.
The Education Authority (EA) facilitated extensive renovation work and comprehensive staff training, enabling the school to provide tailored support to pupils which meets their individual needs.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, principal Paul Smith said: “We were honoured to welcome EA chief executive Richard Pengelly, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Mrs Dixon and Pam Cameron MLA to celebrate this achievement.
“Our specialist staff help children learn at a pace that suits them, and this new provision fills a vital gap in what we can offer. It will enhance outcomes for all and benefit our whole school community for years to come.
“We thank our staff and the Education Authority for working together to make this happen.”
Mr Pengelly said the development reflects the EA’s commitment to improving support for children with SEN.
“It was a privilege to attend the opening. Seeing children learn alongside their mainstream peers was especially encouraging, and this is the model we want to expand across Northern Ireland. This is essential to giving children fair, local access to inclusive education,” he said.