Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has expressed serious concern after the Education Authority announced changes had taken place to its management arrangements for special educational needs (SEN).

Mr Lyttle, Chair of the Assembly’s Education Committee, was speaking after Education Authority officials at today’s sitting of the Committee revealed there had been ‘changes to the managerial arrangements’ of the organisation’s children and young people directorate, which has responsibility for SEN.

The East Belfast MLA said questions needed to be answered as to the reasoning behind the change and what it would mean for the Education Authority’s SEN provision.

“There is longstanding concern about the Education Authority’s SEN provision. I previously submitted a petition signed by 6,000 people calling for it to reverse a decision to reduce full-time SEN nursery provision to part-time, while there was public protest at its approach to special school area planning, SEN Transport errors and an internal audit of the Special School application process.

“It is of further serious concern to learn of this change to senior management arrangements for SEN. As Assembly Education Committee Chair, I have requested an urgent formal explanation and attendance at the Education Committee by the Education Authority CEO.”