SEN Reform: 15 Key Committee Recommendations – Roles and Responsibilities

Summary Table

# 15 Key Recommendations Lead Responsibility Delivery Responsibility Support / Partners Accountability / Oversight
1 Simplify and refocus the SEN Reform Agenda Department of Education DE & Education Authority Stakeholders incl. schools, parents, CYP Minister for Education / Committee
2 Reduce bureaucracy in school-based SEN support Education Authority EA, Local Impact Teams, schools Department of Education EA – standards & reporting
3 Strengthen Local Impact Teams Education Authority EA Local Impact Teams Department of Education, Health (where required) EA – publish data & outcomes
4 Publish an urgent SEN placement action plan Department of Education Education Authority Managing authorities, schools, area-planning bodies DE (plan) / EA (implementation)
5 Develop and publish an Inclusive Education policy Department of Education EA, schools, special schools, managing authorities Parents, CYP & stakeholders DE – policy & monitoring
6 Improve access to Educational Psychology Education Authority EA Educational Psychology Service Department of Education EA – access, response times & workforce plans
7 Invest in workforce capability across the system Department of Education Teacher ed. providers, EA, Middletown Centre, schools GTCNI, HEIs, managing authorities DE – set standards & monitor delivery
8 Review and support the SENCO role urgently Department of Education EA, schools, managing authorities, SENCOs SENCO representatives DE – policy / EA & employers – implementation
9 Reform and professionalise the Classroom Assistant role Education Authority EA, schools, employing authorities Department of Education, unions EA – workforce reform / DE – funding & alignment
10 Ensure equality of SEN support in early years and pre-school provision Department of Education EA, schools, Local Impact Teams, early years settings Health visitors, AHPs, early years services DE – entitlement / EA – operational access
11 Address SEN inequity in Irish-medium education Department of Education EA, early years providers, nursery & pre-school settings Department of Health DE – policy equality across all settings
12 Issue guidance on restraint and seclusion and progress legal reform Department of Education EA, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, Irish-medium providers DoH, AHPs, teacher ed. providers DE – funding, planning & published data
13 Create a formal Health and Education framework Department of Education DE guidance to schools / EA training & support Children's rights bodies, safeguarding agencies DE – legal & policy reform / schools – compliance
14 Strengthen transition and post-19 planning Department of Education & Department of Health (joint) EA, HSC Trusts, AHPs, schools, early years Other departments as required Joint DE & DoH framework with named accountable owners
15 Strengthen transition and post-19 planning for young people with SEND DE, DoH, DfE & DfC (joint) EA, schools, HSC Trusts, colleges, employment services, social care Other departments & community organisations DE (school-age transition) / DoH (adult care pathways) / DfE & DfC (post-19 pathways)

Roles Overview

Department of Education

  • Sets policy, entitlement and standards
  • Allocates funding and sets priorities
  • Leads system reform and publishes plans
  • Monitors implementation and outcomes

Education Authority

  • Delivers operational services and support
  • Manages workforce and Local Impact Teams
  • Plans and manages placements
  • Reports data, performance and outcomes

Schools & Settings

  • Implement support for children
  • Identify need early and use support effectively
  • Work in partnership with families and other services

Department of Health & Partners

  • Provide health, AHP, therapeutic and diagnostic support
  • Contribute to early intervention and complex needs
  • Partner in joint planning and pathways

Other Partners

  • Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta
  • Managing authorities
  • Teacher education providers
  • GTCNI, colleges, DfE, DfC, community and voluntary sector