The Education Authority has rejected claims by Pat Sheehan MLA that it launched a classroom support reform without consultation through social media one evening.

A public consultation on the reform plans began on 24 March 2026 and will run for eight weeks. Details of the consultation were confirmed in a press release on 12 March 2026.

The reform seeks improved outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs. The Education Minister outlined the plans in January 2025 as part of the Department of Education's SEN reform delivery plan, published in February 2025.

Reform of the classroom support model appeared in the Department's five-year budget strategy in February 2026. Departmental and Education Authority officials discussed it at the Assembly's Education Committee on 18 February 2026.

The day after that session, the Education Authority issued a briefing paper on the topic. David Gordon of the Education Authority stated the paper set out the previously announced reform ahead of the public consultation.

In a separate development, Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker urged Education Minister Paul Givan to reverse proposals integrating youth services funding into the Education Authority's budget. Baker expressed concern that the changes lack guarantees to maintain current funding levels.