The youngster had been attending a special needs unit that caters for Key Stage 1
A family say they have been “left in limbo” as their eight-year-old son with additional needs waits on school place as the new term begins.
Dylan Law, from South-East Belfast, has an official autism diagnosis and had been attending a special needs unit at a mainstream school. However, the unit currently only caters for children in Key Stage 1, so Dylan needs to change school as he now enters into Primary 5.
The youngster spent Primary 1 in mainstream school, before he received his official statement of special educational needs, with his parents saying it was a “horrific” time. They are keen to get him a space in a specialist unit suited to his needs to help him thrive in school.
READ MORE: ‘My son is being denied an education and treated like an outcast’READ MORE: Six SEN pupils without places as schools return across Northern Ireland
Speaking to Belfast Live, mum Jennifer Mercer said: “When he did P1 in a mainstream school, we were struggling with him every day, he would scream, kick and fight and wouldn’t want to go in. Then once he got a statement and were able to get him a place in the school’s special needs unit, it was like night and day.
“He was having meltdowns in class then he went into the unit and settled, he fit right in – I couldn’t believe the difference in him. He needs to go into a unit, he’s too advanced for a special needs school, but there’s no way he could handle mainstream school.
“He started being assessed by the Education Authority in October last year, because we knew the unit he was in wasn’t suitable past P4, so for P5 he would have to move.
“We had this all started in January this year. You’re speaking to schools before the summer, before they’re all off, then waiting for them coming back at the end of August and everything’s all chaotic and rushed.”
Last week, the Education Authority announced that a total of 1,374 additional SEN places had been created for the 2025-26 school year, involving 29 classes in Special Schools and 128 specialist provision classes in mainstream schools.
However, despite this, they said six pupils have still to be found school places. The EA said “intensive work is continuing to confirm provision for these children as early as possible in the new school year.”
Dylan’s parents said being left in limbo has been frustrating, with the youngster missing his friends from school and wanting to go back.
Jennifer added: “For kids with additional needs, you need to prepare them well in advance and you need to keep reminding them they’re going to be going here on a certain date to get them ready. For Dylan, you can’t just land things on him at the last minute, it puts him completely out of whack.
“It’s frustrating he had to move school in the first place, as he was so settled in with all of his friends. Luckily a lot of his friends do live reasonably close, so we can meet up at the park or something. But it’s the not seeing them every day – it breaks my heart for him.
The family have been told the schools they listed no longer have capacity for more students, with the Education Authority suggesting units that are far from their home.
His dad, David Law, said: “We heard from them on Friday and they said two schools we put down have no capacity to take anyone else. So they’ve now suggested two schools, which are in Carryduff and Kilcooley.
“A school nearby have a special needs unit, but it’s a longshot that they still have spaces, so we’re really hoping on one of the other two units now.”
“The two suggested units are quite far from where we live,” Jennifer added. “We would need transport them as our daughter gets picked up by the bus, but somebody needs to be here with her.
“I’m the only driver in the house, so it would have to be taking him to school, and if my husband’s working I have to be here to make sure our daughter gets the bus. Transport absolutely would be needed – but then that is going to be another big fight.”
Dylan’s parents say they are now at a loss, and desperate to get their son a space in a suitable school. Jennifer said: “We just don’t know what to do. We’re just sitting around waiting to hear something back, we need to push it a bit further to make sure he’s not forgotten.
“Homeschooling wouldn’t even be an option, for a start I wouldn’t have a clue, but he really needs to be around other kids. He loves being in the company of other kids, and it’s always good for a child’s development to be around kids of their own age and of similar needs.”
A spokesperson for the Education Authority said: “We are determined to resolve this matter in Dylan’s best interests. In the meantime, we would reassure Dylan’s family ongoing engagement is continuing with a number of schools based on the preferences they have expressed.
“We fully understand their concerns and frustrations with the SEN placements process. Similarly, parents will appreciate that, it is important that schools are confident that they can meet the SEN needs in a safe and appropriate environment.”
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