Impact on Families of Special Needs Children
Summer schemes at special schools in Northern Ireland will not take place this year, a decision described as "devastating for families" by Claire Miller, a mother of a child with special needs. Miller emphasized the critical role these schemes play in providing respite during the summer holidays, stating the cancellation has the "potential to cause breakdowns for families" who depend on this support.
On Thursday, the Education Authority (EA) announced the summer schemes would be cancelled due to "concerns about the adequacy of health care provision for vulnerable participating children." The EA noted they had "engaged repeatedly with the Department of Health (DoH) over several months in an attempt to avoid this situation." The Department of Health described the EA's decision as "highly regrettable."
Miller's 14-year-old son, Danny, has a severe learning disability, autism, ADHD, and exhibits challenging behaviour. She explained that Danny requires substantial support, structure, and routine, which he receives at school.
She highlighted the importance of the summer scheme for her family, saying it provides a necessary break and respite.
"The days are really long at home, and to fill a day with Danny can be really, really tough so [the summer scheme] just gets him out of the house and gives him a bit of normality – just to have that routine of school which is so important to him.
Trying to get through those nine weeks is really challenging anyway and everyone looks forward to that week of summer scheme, so to not have it this year – it's going to be very, very distressing to a lot of families," Miller said.
'We are exhausted'
Fiona Forrest, mother of six-year-old Ted who is autistic and attended a summer scheme last year, expressed frustration and exhaustion over the cancellation.
"Once again the most vulnerable in our society are punished by those at the top - it's just constant," she told BBC NI's Evening Extra programme.
"I think I speak on behalf of every SEN parent when I say we are exhausted.
People don't realise how fortunate they are that they do not have to fight the fights that we do for our children that deserve every bit as much as every other child."
Forrest described how the previous year's scheme positively impacted her son.
"Last year's scheme made Ted's summer and he would 'run out the door' to go to it.
He was able to spend five or six hours with people who knew him and care for him deeply and we never had a worry about him," she said.
She also noted the difficulty in finding childcare for children with complex needs.
"To find childcare for complex needs children - it's not easy, it's downright impossible for some people."
Forrest had planned to use the week of the summer scheme to spend more time with her other children, but now that will not be possible.
"I know it is one week, it's five days and in the grand scheme of things I know people think that's nothing, but to families like ours it's monumental."
Education Authority's Position
In a statement, the EA explained that the decision to cancel the summer scheme was made "solely on safety grounds."
"We deeply regret it and fully understand that it will be very distressing for children and parents."
The EA clarified that on-site nursing cover would be required to safely hold the schemes this year.
"The DoH has confirmed this week that this would not be available. On that basis, only one decision can be responsibly made for this summer."
Health Minister's Response
Speaking at a Stormont committee, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt commented on the situation.
"We are looking at contingency plans...but I think that it's just very disappointing that those summer schools are being suspended.
It's very important to all of the children who attend and to the parents and the carers.
What I'm trying to understand is why they were able to go ahead last year but not this year. What has changed?"
The EA reiterated their regret over the decision and their understanding of the distress it causes.
They also stated they will continue to work with the DoH to address the ongoing issue of healthcare provision for special school pupils.
Department of Health Statement
The Department of Health's Permanent Secretary, Mike Farrar, provided a statement regarding the summer schemes.
"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."
"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."
Farrar explained that requiring a registered nurse from the CCN team onsite at every special school would divert nurses from frontline clinical care.
"To meet the expectation to have a registered nurse from the CCN team onsite in every special school would mean taking nurses away from the provision of frontline clinical care."
He added that efforts will be made to provide alternative support to mitigate the impact of the EA's decision.
Emotional Impact on Families
Miller expressed the potential consequences of the cancellation on families and services during the summer.
"This decision to cancel the summer scheme for special needs children has the potential to cause a significant crisis for all services over the summer for families."
"Especially for families like mine that would have the higher support needs and for the children that have more challenging behaviour, because to try and get through nine weeks with no help and no respite – it's going to be devastating."
"A lot of families are already on edge and maybe don't even get respite, and summer scheme is the only respite that they're going to have over the summer so to have that taken away it's really, really concerning.
It just feels again like the most vulnerable children in society have just been forgotten about – it's heart-breaking," Miller said.
