Summer schemes at special schools called off

Summer schemes at special schools across Northern Ireland will not take place this year, due to concerns over the healthcare available for participating children.

The Education Authority said it had attempted to avoid the move through repeated engagement with the Department of Health.

It said it had made clear that onsite nursing cover would be required for summer schemes to be held safely.

However, the authority said the department had confirmed this will not be available.

In a statement, the Education Authority said: “This decision has been taken solely on safety grounds.

“We deeply regret it and fully understand that it will be very distressing for children and parents.”

The authority said it acknowledged the pressures facing the health service, and that it would continue to work to resolve the issue of healthcare provision for special school pupils.

It said its firm view is that “consistent province-wide and year-round nurse-led provision for all special schools is required”.

It added: “Its current absence – in the context of greater complexity of health needs – has created growing pressures and concerns for the welfare of children in term time.

“The risks are much greater in the summer months when there is inevitably reduced staffing availability for summer schemes, with the schools themselves being closed.”