The Education Authority will hold a conference on classroom support reforms for pupils with special educational needs at the Balmoral Hotel in Belfast on Thursday, April 16.

The event features talks and panel discussions on delivering improved support and better outcomes for pupils with SEN. Schools that have developed new approaches will share their experiences.

Tomas Adell, EA's Chief Transformation Officer, stated that current support often fails many children with SEN and that change is needed. He noted that schools across Northern Ireland have shifted focus to pupils' needs at each development stage, yielding strong results.

Adell added that evidence shows individual classroom assistants do not suit every pupil, unlike practices in countries with superior outcomes.

This conference forms part of a public consultation running until May 22, 2026. The consultation proposes granting schools flexibility to customize support, moving away from rigid models.

Additional information sessions target classroom assistants, schools, parents, carers, and the public, offered both online and in person.