Sinn Fein MLA Cathy Mason stated that schools in disadvantaged areas handle most pupils with special educational needs, while grammar schools and those in affluent areas provide little specialist support. Mason serves on Stormont’s education committee.

Education Minister Paul Givan wrote to schools last month requiring them to establish specialist provision in mainstream classes, known as SPiMs, to address demand. The Education Authority projects a shortfall of 400 places for such pupils by the 2026/27 school year.

Mason noted that over three-quarters of SEN expansion came from 26% of schools. She said data for the 2024-25 academic year shows primary schools in the most affluent areas have almost no specialist classes. Only one school among 126 in those areas had such a class, supporting a single child.

Post-primary schools in affluent areas also lack specialist provision, Mason added. No fully selective grammar school hosts a SPiM class.

Schools with higher free school meal entitlement levels have taken on most children with complex needs, according to Mason. She argued the system depends on goodwill from the same schools each year, rather than fair distribution across all schools.