This government is fully committed to supporting students with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.
To support the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and forward planning my department published Circular 0039/2025. This circular informs school management and patrons of measures introduced to support forward planning and reiterates the need for parents to inform the NCSE through the Parent Notify process that they are seeking a special educational placement for their child.
This school year to facilitate earlier sanctioning of classes for the 2026/27 school year, an earlier date of 1 October was set for parents to complete the process. The NCSE undertook significant work at local and national level to ensure that families and schools were aware of the timeline and process.
A very significant level of notifications were received by the NCSE by the 1 October timeline. In terms of those coming after this timeline, the NCSE and my department carefully considered how best to support these children and young people.
The NCSE recommenced the issuing of letters of eligibility in early February.
In terms of families seeking a school place for September 2026, it’s important to note that each school prepares and publishes their own admissions policy and manages their own admissions process in line with the Admissions Act. With new special classes and special school places being sanctioned at the moment, this will create additional capacity that parents will be able to apply for once schools open their admissions process. I want to reassure families that they will be supported in seeking a placement and that no child or young person should be prevented from starting school. There are a wide range of supports in mainstream classes, special classes and special schools for children and young people with additional needs.
The NCSE remains available to provide advice and support to all families seeking specialist placement and will continue to examine where provision is required for the 2026/27 school year.
