'Lack of services for my son leaves me feeling like a prisoner'

A parent whose son has special educational needs said she "feels like a prisoner" in her home due to an inability to find him a place in daycare.

Suzy Ward was among about 50 people, including parents and children, who protested outside Stormont on Monday morning over what they say is a lack of support and services.

The protest coincides with the return of assembly members to Stormont following the summer recess.

Education Minister Paul Givan said he had plans to establish a "flagship" capital programme for the special educational needs (SEN) school estate.

Suzy Ward told BBC News NI her son Eoyn was now at home full time, which meant she did not "get a break" and was "constantly on the go".

"I really feel that we need opportunities and respite and support," Ms Ward said.

"It's so difficult. There's days where we are both at home and I feel like a prisoner."

Education Minister Paul Givan said he recognised the "real challenges" within the sector, and a plan had been "mapped out".

"I will need other parties to support me," he said.

"I met the finance minister just last week, I outlined to him the ask we're going to require. It's £1.7bn over the next 10 years."

Sheena McCann holding a photo of her son Joe at the protest

Sheena McCann, who was at the protest, said her son Joe is 17 and they were in the process of transitioning him into adult care services.

"In our case we are getting two days in the day centre for a few hours and that's not going to work - he needs the same place to go to for consecutive days. It's very difficult to get him out of the house," she said.

"It's really left to me and my husband, and it's really hard to know we can't leave the house.

"Ten years ago you would have got five days and transport, everyone is being failed here. I can't believe in this day and age this has been allowed to happen."

Tina Henderson said politicians did not understand because "they aren't in our world"

Tina Henderson, who was at the protest for her son Robin, said she was a single mum and received "no support whatsoever".

"I'm here today because I'm fed up," she said.

"I got four hours respite all summer, I dread the future of being just stuck in the house."

She said it was "very hard" for her son to transition to other places and he needs to feel safe to go along with any changes.

Ms Henderson said politicians did not understand because "they aren't in our world… if they knew they would see the struggles".

'It's not guaranteed'

Ellen Fox's child, who has additional needs, should be starting nursery this month.

While the mother-of-two has technically secured a place for daughter Alice, the classroom itself is not ready.

"They were supposed to build two new classrooms over the summer here, that they haven't even started yet," she told BBC News NI.

"We're left with a place but no classrooms. So we had to fight for a place in the school. Now we have to fight for a place to have a classroom in the school."

The school is Ceara Special School in Lurgan, which was the "school of dreams" for the family.

Ms Fox does not yet know the start date for Alice.

"We're still very much in the air. I was contacted by two different members of staff telling me two different outcomes on dates and school," she explained.

"We've now got a date that work's going to be started by, which is really positive".

By the start of next month, Ms Fox said she hopes Alice will "be in her uniform".

"But it's still not 100% guaranteed yet," she added.

Alice was due to start nursery this month

A spokesperson for the Education Authority told BBC News NI that work at Ceara has been delayed "by unforeseen circumstances".

"The project to deliver two additional modular classrooms was due to commence in July but had to be halted due to the discovery of an underground power cable," they said.

"EA are working with NIE to resolve the situation. We can confirm that the removal of the underground cable is scheduled for the 16th September 2025. Once this is completed, the construction work at the school is projected to take six weeks.

"In the interim, the school has introduced temporary contingency arrangements for affected pupils.

"EA very much regrets the delay and the disruption it has caused for children and families."

What is available for children with SEN?

There are about 70,000 SEN students in Northern Ireland and 29,000 of them have an official statement outlining the support they need.

A pupil can receive a statement of SEN, which is a legal document setting out the support they should receive.

A statement - and the support it mandates - ends when a child leaves school, rather than being in place up to the age of 25.

In contrast, in England an education, health and care plan (EHCP) outlines a young person's special educational needs up to the age of 25.

It is a legal document, which also describes the additional support they need in education or training and the outcomes they would like to achieve.

Though there has been criticism that some councils in England fail to meet deadlines set out in the plan.

In Wales and Scotland there have been recent reforms to help young people with SEN transition from school.

The Department for the Economy estimates that there has been a 134% rise in demand for such services in Northern Ireland over the past two decades.