MLAs to Return Early Over Cancellation of SEN Summer Schemes

MLAs will be recalled next week to discuss the cancellation of SEN summer schemes by the Education Authority, a move criticized by multiple parties as leaving vulnerable children and families without vital support.

MLAs to be recalled over cancellation of SEN summer schemes

MLAs are scheduled to be recalled from their Easter break next week to address concerns regarding the cancellation of summer schemes for children with special educational needs (SEN).

The Education Authority (EA) decided to cancel the schemes citing "concerns about the adequacy of health care provisions" for participating children.

A recall petition initiated by the Alliance Party has gained support from Sinn Féin, SDLP, and the TUV.

This support ensures the petition has met the required 30 signatures necessary for the speaker to recall MLAs to the chamber. The sitting is anticipated to occur next week.

Alliance deputy leader Eoin Tennyson, who submitted the petition, described the decision to cancel the schemes as "disgraceful."

"Once again it is the most vulnerable children who are paying the price for failure and inaction,"

"Parents are being left abandoned scrambling for alternatives that do not exist."

He further criticized the responses from the education and health ministers as "woefully inadequate" and stated that "the buck passing needs to stop."

Speaking on The Nolan Show, Tennyson called the cancellation "callous and cruel," emphasizing that the summer scheme is a "lifeline for families."

Eoin Tennyson speaking. He has brown hair and is wearing a black blazer with white shirt and black tie. — Alliance Deputy Leader Eoin Tennyson called for the situation to be resolved

DUP MLA Cheryl Brownlee, whose son attends a special school, shared her experience on The Nolan Show.

She revealed that she received an email from her son's school notifying her that the summer scheme would not proceed.

Brownlee expressed that there is "absolute anger, frustration but also incredible fear" among the families affected by the cancellation.

She described the situation as "horrific" and highlighted that "this is the only form of respite that parents get during that summer holidays."

Cheryl Brownlee. She has long blonde hair and blue eyes. She is wearing pink lipstick.

'Not a luxury, they are a lifeline'

Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason, supporting the petition, condemned the decision to halt the schemes as "deplorable and caused unnecessary angst among parents."

She criticized the ongoing political "blame game between the DUP and UUP" following the decision as "disgraceful."

Mason urged the Ministers to resolve the issue before the Assembly reconvenes next week.

TUV MLA Timothy Gaston also endorsed the petition.