Special school summer schemes will go ahead following backlash

Special school summer schemes will go ahead this year after public and political backlash to the announcement made earlier this week.

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.

A resolution was announced on Friday afternoon following engagement between the Department of Health, the Department of Education and the Education Authority (EA).

The Department of Health is to provide nursing support at each special school summer scheme site – after saying on Thursday that onsite registered nursing provision was not needed at all sites.

The U-turn has been welcomed by MLAs, some of whom have asked the Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Education Minister Paul Givan to provide explanations on how the problem unfolded.

Mr Givan said that after “intense and constructive” engagement on Friday, a solution was found.

“The Education Authority will now work closely with special school principals to urgently progress detailed planning and preparation for the delivery of the schemes,” he said.

“This was the outcome that we wanted for families, however, the safety and wellbeing of children and young people was our concern. I am pleased that we have now been able to find a way forward.”

Mr Nesbitt said he was “pleased” to confirm that nursing support would be available at each special school summer scheme site.

“We will continue to work with all partners to develop and a robust, sustainable, year-round model of health care support for special schools. This long-term work aims to provide greater stability, strengthen provision and ensure that the needs of children with complex medical requirements are consistently and appropriately met.”

The EA said: “This represents a workable solution that will enable special school summer schemes to be held this year.

“The overriding priority of everyone concerned remains the safety and well-being of children and young people, and EA will continue to work with special school principals to urgently prioritise planning for the summer schemes.

“Engagement will also continue on developing and embedding a robust and stable model for year-round health care provision for special schools.”

Earlier on Friday, MLAs were to be recalled from their Easter break and reconvene on Tuesday to debate a motion expressing “grave concern” over the cancellation of the summer schemes, following a recall motion submitted by the Alliance Party.

Several MLAs welcomed the decision that allowed the summer schemes to go ahead over the summer, but also called for an explanation on how the issue arose.

Alliance deputy leader Eoin Tennyson said that while the U-turn was “positive news and a huge relief” for families, there should “never have been such panic and distress”.

The Alliance MLA said: “The handling of this situation by both the Education and Health Ministers has been deeply inadequate and, frankly, incompetent.

“This matter should have been resolved far earlier and never allowed to escalate to the point where concerned parents and the prospect of a recall were needed to prompt action.

“These summer schemes are a vital lifeline for many families and children during the summer months, and it is deeply concerning that they continue to face unnecessary obstacles and are repeatedly forced to fight for the support and provision they need.

“We need to see the full details of what is being proposed by both departments, but Alliance will continue to press this issue until every child receives the summer scheme they were promised.”

Sinn Fein MLA Danny Baker said: “This U-turn will come as a huge relief to parents and vulnerable children who rely heavily on this vital service and can now rightly look forward to it this summer.

“It should never have come to this point.

“We now need to hear directly from the Education and Health Ministers to explain who made this decision, why, and a guarantee that the same mistake will never again be repeated.

“The ‘justification’ to date doesn’t cut it and Sinn Fein will be seeking substantive answers from Paul Givan and Mike Nesbitt.

“We must never allow the rights of children with additional needs to be diminished.”

TUV councillor Matthew Armstrong said the summer schemes going ahead would be “a huge relief” for families.

He added: “However, the whole fiasco raises a bigger issue. How did we ever get into this mess in the first place?

“Why were parents of the most vulnerable children in our society forced to go onto the airwaves and to the papers to plead for this most basic provision when — as today’s statement shows — the resources were always there? It was just a matter of finding the political will.

“The whole way the issue was handled — including the decision to try sneaking it out when the Assembly was on the verge of the Easter recess — demands explanation.”

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said “this fiasco should never have happened in the first place”.

He said: “Families of children with additional needs and disabilities were thrown into a state of panic and despair overnight.

“Parents lay awake not knowing how they would cope this summer. That is completely unacceptable. These families already face enormous daily pressures. Those responsible for this shambles added to that burden without a second thought.

“Nursing support was apparently impossible on Thursday and found within 24 hours on Friday. Who made the original decision to cancel and why were families treated as an afterthought? Children with additional needs and their families deserve far better than to be used as pawns in a political games.”

UUP leader Jon Burrows also welcomed the confirmation that the summer schemes would go ahead, and said he had written to Mr Givan to raise questions about staffing levels.

He said: “Today I met with officials from the Education Authority to press for an urgent resolution and made clear the imperative of finding solutions immediately.

“I know from direct engagement that our Health Minister has been working hard to get this issue resolved following the EA’s distressing announcement yesterday.

“However, this situation should never have arisen in the first place. The EA’s decision to announce the cancellation of these schemes on a Thursday, just before the Easter recess, was completely unnecessary and caused avoidable distress and uncertainty for families and schools.

“This episode highlights the pressing need for a comprehensive review of the EA’s workforce arrangements and training, to ensure we have adequately trained staff available to support our most vulnerable children throughout the academic year, including during the summer period.

“Their request for nurses to support SEN summer schemes clearly stems from issues within their current staffing model.

“I have therefore written to the Education Minister to formally raise this matter and to call for action on long term planning in this area.”

DUP MLA Cheryl Brownlee said that as a parent of a child with special educational needs, “I know just how essential this provision is”.

She added: “These schemes provide vital structure, care and development opportunities for children who depend on routine and specialist support.

“It is therefore welcome that a solution has now been identified, and that on-site nursing support will be in place to allow schemes to go ahead. This is a significant and important breakthrough.

“However, it should never have reached this point. The uncertainty has caused unnecessary anxiety for some of the most vulnerable children and their families.”