Contingency plans to cover special school summer schemes being examined after children with special needs left in the lurch

It emerged on Thursday that the schemes, which provide support for children with additional needs over the summer, would not go ahead in 2026 over concerns about the healthcare available for pupils.

An Assembly committee heard on Thursday that families are “spitting fire” over the decision.

The Education Authority said it had attempted to avoid the move through repeated engagement with the Department of Health.

It said it had “made clear” that on-site nursing cover would be required for summer schemes to be held safely.

However, the authority said the department had confirmed this will not be available.

TUV councillor Matthew Armstrong, who is the father of a child with additional needs, said the schemes are a “vital part of the holiday season” and described the announcement as “totally unacceptable”.

The Ballymena representative added: “Whatever the truth, and whoever to blame, it is outrageous and leaves some of the most vulnerable children in society in the lurch.”

In a statement, the Education Authority said: “This decision has been taken solely on safety grounds.

“We deeply regret it and fully understand that it will be very distressing for children and parents.”

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said one of the issues is that the Department of Education, led by DUP minister Paul Givan, was “not aware of the qualifications of all their classroom assistants”.

He said he had proposed that such assistants on 52-week contracts could be switched to look after summer schemes.

Mr Nesbitt said: “I’m not quite sure why we have given up so early on with the summer still some months away.”

Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health Mike Farrar called the EA’s decision “highly regrettable”.

“SEN summer schools have been running successfully and safely in Northern Ireland for several years with nursing support which did not include onsite nursing presence in all sites.

“Of the full cohort of children attending special schools (around 7,500), around 1,500 are identified as requiring additional support for complex healthcare needs.

“Based on clinical advice, the safe delivery of these summer schemes does not require onsite registered nursing provision in all sites.

“We have advised that in previous years the CCNs (community children’s nurses) provided additional training and support to classroom assistants who work on the summer schemes and we have offered to provide that at an enhanced level.

“The CCNs provide healthcare support to children with complex healthcare needs within the community including those requiring palliative care as well as providing support to children attending SEN schools.”

He said around 80% of children who attend SEN schools do not have complex healthcare needs requiring CCN intervention.

“The cancellation of these schemes will also directly lead to pressure on already stretched respite services for a significant number of these children who have very complex needs and we fully acknowledge and appreciate the concerns that families will understandably have.

“We remain committed to supporting schools to address the health needs of children with special educational needs and work is ongoing to consider the best model for nursing provision in special schools.

“We will make every effort to ensure that alternative support can be put in place to lessen the impact of the EA decision.”