Special Educational Needs: Specialist provision in mainstream schools
All children have a right to education in a setting that meets their educational needs. Most pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) attend a mainstream school and receive the support they need there. Some SEN pupils attend a special school while others attend a specialist provision class in a mainstream school.
What are specialist provision classes
Specialist provision classes are smaller in size and offer tailored teaching and support to children with statements of SEN.
A child can only receive a statement of SEN following a statutory assessment of their special educational needs.
It is the responsibility of the Education Authority (EA) to arrange for the special educational provision as specified in a Statement of SEN to be made.
The EA may also arrange for the non-educational provision to be made. Where a school is named in the Statement, that school must admit that child to the school. Parents are invited to give a preference for which school their child attends during the statementing process.
Children with SEN, including those with Statements, should, wherever appropriate and considering the wishes of their parents, be educated alongside their peers in mainstream schools.
There are over 4,000 children in specialist provision classes in Northern Ireland.
Benefits of specialist provision
If your child has a statement of SEN which recommends that their needs can be met within a specialist provision class in a mainstream school, the EA will try to get provision as close to where you live as possible.
The benefits of specialist provision include:
- more opportunities to develop communication and social skills in a small class setting
- being a valued and equal member of the local school community
- encouragement and support for children to reach their potential with a higher ratio of adult-to-pupil
This means that pupils can take part and enjoy school life with their peers in a mainstream school while experiencing a level of inclusion, equal with their level of need, within mainstream classes.
Specialist provision classes will have fewer pupils than a mainstream class and have more adult support. Class sizes are determined by the level of need within the class.
There are multiple types of specialist provision including learning and social and communication. Find out more about the different types of specialist provision at:
How to access a specialist provision place for your child
The EA's Statutory Assessment and Review Service (SARS) will work with you and the school to offer a suitable placement as close to where you live as possible.
Contact information for SARS is available at: