Education Minister , has today expressed serious
concern over delays to the implementation of the Special
Educational Needs (SEN) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026,
highlighting the impact on children, families and schools across
Northern Ireland.
The Regulations, which are intended to strengthen support for
children and young people with special educational needs (SEN)
have been subject to extended scrutiny by the Assembly's
Education Committee. As a result, implementation that was
originally planned for 1 September 2026 is now expected to be
delayed until September 2027.
Warning that the delay will directly affect children and young
people with SEN by postponing critical improvements, said: This delay is neither
acceptable nor in the best interests of children and young people
with special educational needs. It means that long-anticipated
improvements that are designed to deliver real, practical
support, will not be realised for yet another year.
Key measures affected by the delay include reduced assessment
timescales, new rights of appeal, dedicated time and training for
Learning Support Co-ordinators and the introduction of Personal
Learning Plans for all pupils on the SEN register.
Highlighting the implications for families seeking legal clarity
and support the Minister continued: The inability to introduce
new appeal rights limits access to justice for families and
delays the protections that both parents and young people have
been waiting for.
The SEN Regulations were submitted to the Education Committee on
10 February 2026 and have now been under scrutiny for over four
months. Departmental officials have engaged extensively with the
Committee over recent months providing evidence, responding to
queries and offering detailed briefings. Multiple offers to host
workshops for Committee members have also been made.
The Minister continued: While I fully respect the Committee's
role, I am concerned that the level and duration of scrutiny is
now having a direct and detrimental impact on children and
families. It is important that the Committee's consideration is
informed by a balanced range of perspectives, however a
disproportionate reliance on the views of a limited number of
stakeholders risks delaying progress unnecessarily.
I remain firmly committed to progressing the SEN Regulations as a
matter of urgency and ensuring that children, young people and
their families receive the support they need without further
delay. I would encourage the Committee to engage further and
constructively with the Department so that these vital changes
can move forward as quickly as possible.
Further information is also included in a Written Ministerial
Statement, available at: https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/written-ministerial-statement-special-education-needs-sen-regulations-northern-ireland
