Terms of reference

Strategic Review of Current SEN provision and Transformation Agenda

Draft Terms of Reference

• To analyse and evaluate the challenges faced within current SEN support systems in schools and assess the extent to which the Department’s SEN Reform Agenda Delivery Plan is addressing these.

Phase 1: Governance responses: September 2025

• Commission research briefing, context and suggested questions
• Review recommended priorities for change in SEN delivery made by a succession of reports[1], beginning with update briefing from the Department and Education Authority’s accounting officers on progress with the Public Accounts Committee’s 2021 ‘Report on Impact Review of Special Educational Needs’ recommendations.  

(DE and EA responded via ensemble End-to-End Review 2023, SEN Reform Agenda 2025 and SEN Reform Agenda Delivery Plan 2025-2030).

• Commission briefings from DE and EA on respective policy and operational approaches to reform
• Request DE/EA correlation of recommendations with reform agenda actions.

Phase 2: Stakeholder perspectives October – November/December 2025

• Collate and consider SEN stakeholder feedback to Committee since 14 February 2024.
• Identify missing parental, school principal, SENCO, Ed psych, classroom assistant perspectives and invite their feedback; canvass stakeholders via engagement events, written and select oral submissions
• Engage with Independent Autism Reviewer and Mental Health Champion to learn about culture, terms, trends, priorities,
• Engage with RaISe for background briefing on e.g. literature review, definition of terms
• Engage with Health Committee on SEN transition and pupils with exceptional needs
• Engage with DE to understand policy direction re inclusion, right support, right people, right time, right place delivery plan and outcomes framework; and effectiveness of funding allocation including 9 transformation projects
• Engage with EA to understand statutory duty, statementing, provision of SEN pupil support services, transition, and issues re transport, workforce and vetting.

Phase 3: Consideration and Reporting

Report on progress iro:

• Phase 1 system improvements subsequent to governance recommendations;
• Phase 2 stakeholder feedback
• DE policy re inclusion
• SEN Reform agenda: to what extent do the actions within the four pillars of right support, right people right time, right place delivery plan and outcomes framework addresses the challenges in the SEN system
• Effectiveness of funding allocation including 13 transformation projects;
• EA statementing; appeals; pupil support; transition; transport; workforce; vetting; communication and information management
• Recommendations (compile and consider SH recommendations);
• Conclusions (Committee Review highlights to assist the development of policy)

Aoibhinn Treanor

Clerk to the Committee for Education