This evening’s brave message in full from mothers of two children with SEN speaking on behalf of Sólás to Belfast City Council:

"Pupils will be standing waiting for a yellow bus knowing it's a school day because they rely on that morning routine and it will not come for them - that's heartbreaking" belfastlive.co.uk/news/co-derry-…

The impact of the Secretary of State’s punishment budget was plain for everyone to see. Our team is at the High Court in Belfast today in relation to a challenge to the 2023/24 budget setting process. Read more at tinyurl.com/2put869h

Parents of children in special schools just received notice of another round of strikes over the next 3 days. Our kids will be at home, while Chris Heaton-Harris and DUP sit on their hands. Please make a decision and let the rest of us get on with our lives

Well done to all involved for their efforts but it is astonishing that special school parents have to fundraise for a school playground. Surely that is essential and should be provided for the pupils by the #education authorities.

‼️URGENT‼️ We are devastated at the news that Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice has lost government funding resulting in a reduction of services. We have written to our politicians & expect swift action! This is Dáithí at a visit to the Hospice last year. Just look at what it means to him.

‼️STATEMENT FROM DÁITHÍ‼️ Dáithí has a message for our politicians about the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice losing government funding & his love for his friends, nurses and doctors at the hospice. #SaveOurHospice #SupportKidsHospice #RestoreHospiceFunding #StandByOurChildren

It's hugely unfair that non-teaching staff are not in pay negotiations, for e.g. SEN workers. These members of staff are crucial to the provision of education, their wages are already unacceptably low and they continue to suffer from high inflation.

Parents & supporters of SEN in NI. WE NEED YOUR HELP! Stormont is debating the future of SEN provision, but we need YOUR voice to make sure it's a priority. Click link below to send a message to YOUR local MLAs urging them to invest in & reform SEN ed tinyurl.com/45ufr3vz

Reposts appreciated 🙏

Michelle O’Neill Michelle, this year many children with autism in NI won't get proper nursery/P1 places due to a shortfall of 1000 SEN school places. Chronic underfunding is a predominant factor. With SF in charge of finance, you are in a position to influence this. We need action, not words

Interested in sharing your experience as a parent or carer of a child attending a Special Provision in Mainstream (SPiM) unit? Join our focus group, which will assist Education NI in working towards SPiM improvement. Email us at [email protected] to express your interest.

"Peggy helps me and my friends. Whenever we are sad, she makes us smile." A pupil from a Belfast special school hiked two mountains in one day to raise money for a new mental health support dog bbc.in/3TPOUia

One son had their mainstream school place confirmed yesterday, the other son still awaiting P1 SEN placement confirmation. They are equals in my eyes, why not yours Education Authority SEN Reform NI Kate Nicholl Belfast Live Stephen Nolan

Pls read the info in the petition ⬇️ Post 19 legislation in NI doesn't exist.Unlike England we do not have Education,Health & care plans (EHC) to replace Statement of Educational needs which is void at 19yrs.Pls help Caleb to have a voice chng.it/HHrJ7N9SGc Patrick Kielty

Welcome statement from the Minister on SEN - I highlighted how Donna Tyson evidenced the inequality in our education system & need to address this. My Q was on how the Department will measure the appropriateness & effectiveness of specialist places in mainstream schools ⤵️

There are still around 400 children with a statement of SEN who do not have a confirmed school place for September 2024, Education NI minister Paul Givan tells Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Education

BBC Spotlight NI lays bare the heartbreak families with children who have complex needs are enduring. No support, no respite—these families are being abandoned by a system that’s supposed to help them. Countless others across NI face the same struggle.

"Review of the whole system" "Underfunded for many years" "Cracked in a lot of seams" "There's no delivery of service" CLC have provided advice and representation to many families over the years on respite care. It needs urgently addressed. Read more at bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Patrick is 11 and has autism and severe learning difficulties. His mother, Jacqueline, has just been told there’s no special school place for him.