Dear Staff Member, Governor, Parent/Guardian,
Operational Plan 1: 2022-24 Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools
Consistent with the Framework for Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools and the Special
Education Strategic Area Plan 2022-27: Planning for Special Education Provision, and through the
associated Operational Plan 1: 2022-24, a number of short and medium term workstreams for
Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools were identified.
The priorities within Operational Plan 1: 2022-24 are to ensure that there is sufficient capacity as
well as seeking to address geographical, sectoral and linguistic inconsistencies, however, there still
exists special educational needs pressures and demand for places, as evidenced in setting up
resource provisions in September 2023 and also projected need for September 2024 and beyond.
The Education Authority is engaging in consultation as it seeks to establish/change specialist
provision (Specialist Provision for Early Years and Foundation, Learning and Social Communication)
classes in nursery, primary and post-primary schools, including those at your school. Therefore, we
are seeking your views on the proposal for approval of specialist provision class(es) at your school
in order that we meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs.
We would like to hear the views of parents, staff, governors, and pupils in relation to the inclusion
of specialist provision classes within your school. A consultation document on the specialist
provision in your school will be available on 5 October 2023 at:
https://www.eani.org.uk/school-management/area-planning/proposed-specialist-provision/st-marys-ps-mullaghbawn
The Education Authority welcomning/proposed-specialist-provision.es all responses and would encourage you to respond with your views and comments via the MS form available on the above link.
The consultation document should be read in conjunction with the Overview Paper which sets out
the background and the context for taking forward Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools in the
future.
The deadline for responses to the pilot consultation is 5.00 pm on Thursday 7 December 2023.
Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Jennifer Colmer, Area Planning
Officer, at Jennifer.Colmer@eani.org.uk.
Yours sincerely
Nigel Freeburn
Special Education Area Planning – Lead Officer