Ulster Unionist Party Education Spokesperson, Rosemary Barton MLA, has urged parents to engage with the consultation on proposed changes to the reorganisation of special schools in Belfast.
Rosemary Barton, a former teacher with over 30 years’ classroom experience, said:
“Setting aside the fact that the EA should not be making such significant decisions in the absence of a Minister or any other means of accountability, I remain deeply concerned that the needs of pupils may not be properly addressed with the proposed amalgamation of seven SEN schools in Belfast. The proposal is to merge 7 schools into 3, with differing disabilities ranging from physical to learning difficulties to emotional and behavioural difficulties.
“Over recent days I have been contacted by several parents and teaching staff who are deeply concerned by the proposals, and for them this commitment by the EA that they will be consulted is far too little far too late.
“Whilst I appreciate the importance of providing a broad curriculum and the social values associated with interaction with a larger peer group, I fear the amalgamation of these schools may simply be a cost cutting exercise. The young people and their individual needs and support must be central to this proposed reorganisation. These are often vulnerable young people, with many needing individual attention and support and therefore they must be educated in manageable groups and have access to speech and language therapy, orthopaedic and physiotherapy along with close links to social services.
“Further, one of the proposed amalgamations, would include amalgamating pupils with physical disabilities with those of severe learning concerns and emotional and challenging behaviour from preschool to 19 years. The needs of these children are so diverse that staff would have to go through an entire retraining process and up skilling to enable them to address and meet the needs of all the different groups of pupils within the ‘new school’.
“Many teachers and classroom assistants are already overwhelmed from paperwork with Individual Education Plans, so if class sizes were to increase as a result of amalgamations it would simply further increase teacher workload. In trying to meet this wider range of issues there could be a danger that no pupil’s needs are fully and properly addressed.
“It was very disappointing that only days before the announcement was made, I had a meeting with the Director of Children and Young Peoples Services Clare Mangan to discuss a seperate consultation on special needs support for children in early years yet Ms Mangan never once alluded to the proposed changes in Belfast. It showed a cavalier disregard to basic accountability. I would urge parents to get fully involved in the consultation exercise and make sure their voices are heard.”
“Further, one of the proposed amalgamations, would include amalgamating pupils with physical disabilities with those of severe learning concerns and emotional and challenging behaviour from preschool to 19 years. The needs of these children are so diverse that staff would have to go through an entire retraining process and up skilling to enable them to address and meet the needs of all the different groups of pupils within the ‘new school’.
“Many teachers and classroom assistants are already overwhelmed from paperwork with Individual Education Plans, so if class sizes were to increase as a result of amalgamations it would simply further increase teacher workload. In trying to meet this wider range of issues there could be a danger that no pupil’s needs are fully and properly addressed.
“It was very disappointing that only days before the announcement was made, I had a meeting with the Director of Children and Young Peoples Services Clare Mangan to discuss a seperate consultation on special needs support for children in early years yet Ms Mangan never once alluded to the proposed changes in Belfast. It showed a cavalier disregard to basic accountability. I would urge parents to get fully involved in the consultation exercise and make sure their voices are heard.”