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Special Educational Needs (SEN) Services in Belfast

Northern IrelandDistrict Council
Council website

Belfast, as Northern Ireland's largest urban local authority, offers a robust landscape for SEND support with its 11 specialist schools and dedicated services tailored to the city's diverse needs. Parents navigating this system can turn to the Special Educational Needs Advice Centre (SENAC) for impartial guidance, helping ease the journey through assessments and planning. While facing shared regional challenges like stalled progress on child poverty that can impact families, Belfast benefits from ongoing economic strengths in health and social work sectors, supporting vital community initiatives for children with special educational needs.

In Belfast's supportive yet challenging SEND landscape, where turning to resources like SENAC can feel like a vital lifeline, JakTrack steps in as your quiet companion, helping you feel prepared, supported, and truly in control as evidence from daily life builds steadily in the background. Starting early means those patterns in sleep, meals, and behaviour reveal themselves just when you need them for assessments or planning, easing the weight of it all. Families here tell us it transforms that sense of overwhelm into quiet confidence, one gentle log at a time. see how JakTrack can help

Schools & SEN Provision

141

Schools

11

Specialist

38

SPiM Schools

67,124

Total Pupils

11.6%at Stages 1-2 SEN

7,773 pupils

9.8%have a Statement

6,580 pupils

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Belfast operates under the Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005. Children here may receive a Statement of Special Educational Needs from the Education Authority.

Northern Ireland Support Organisations

These organisations can help families in Northern Ireland navigate the SEN system:

SENAC (SEN Advice Centre)

Free independent advice on special educational needs in Northern Ireland

Education Authority NI

The Education Authority manages all SEN statements and assessments

Children's Law Centre

Legal advice and representation for children and young people in NI

Local Services & Contacts

SENAC / SEN Advice

Free, independent advice and support for families navigating SEN processes in Northern Ireland.

Special Educational Needs Advice Centre (SENAC)

028 9079 5779[email protected]Website

Parent Carer Forum

SENAC Parent Support (workshops/info)

028 9079 5779[email protected]Website

SEN / Statementing Team

The Education Authority team responsible for Statements of SEN.

028 9598 5960 (Option 1 - SARS)[email protected]
Request form

Speech & Language Therapy

Belfast HSC Trust Children's SLT

028 9504 0703

Occupational Therapy

Belfast HSC Trust Children's OT

028 9504 0703

Short Breaks & Respite

028 9504 2163[email protected]

Schools

years old

Cedar Lodge School

Special0% SEN
Ages 3-190 pupils with SENBT15 4AE

Clarawood School

Special0% SEN
Ages 3-190 pupils with SENBT5 6FR

Deanby Centre School

Special0% SEN
Ages 3-190 pupils with SENBT14 6NN

Fleming Fulton School

Special0% SEN
Ages 3-190 pupils with SENBT9 6TY

Glenveagh School

Special0% SEN
Ages 3-190 pupils with SENBT9 6TX

Greenwood Assessment Centre

Special0% SEN
Ages 3-190 pupils with SENBT4 3JJ

Harberton School

Special0% SEN
Ages 3-190 pupils with SENBT9 6TX

Mitchell House School

Special0% SEN
Ages 3-190 pupils with SENBT4 2GT

Oakwood School and Assessment Centre

Special0% SEN
Ages 3-190 pupils with SENBT9 6TX

Park Education Resource Centre

Special0% SEN
Ages 3-190 pupils with SENBT6 8GH

St Gerard's Resource Centre

Special0% SEN
Ages 3-190 pupils with SENBT10 0NB

St Paul's Primary School, Belfast

Primary36.5% SEN
Ages 4-11112 pupils with SENBT12 7NN

Elmgrove Primary School, Belfast

Primary35.4% SEN
Ages 4-11209 pupils with SENBT5 4RS

Malvern Primary School, Belfast

Primary34.5% SEN
Ages 4-1141 pupils with SENBT13 1HW

Currie Primary School, Belfast

Primary32.3% SEN
Ages 4-1153 pupils with SENBT15 3AB

Holy Cross Boys' Primary School, Belfast

Primary25.6% SEN
Ages 4-1199 pupils with SENBT14 7EX

Fane Street Primary School, Belfast

Primary24.3% SEN
Ages 4-1169 pupils with SENBT9 7BW

St Clare's Primary School, Belfast

Primary24.3% SEN
Ages 4-11116 pupils with SENBT13 2SE

St Oliver Plunkett Primary School, Belfast

Primary22.9% SEN
Ages 4-11137 pupils with SENBT11 8AY

Harding Memorial Integrated Primary School, Belfast

Primary21.2% SEN
Ages 4-1142 pupils with SENBT6 8PZ

Bunscoil Phobal Feirste

Primary20.2% SEN
Ages 4-1190 pupils with SENBT11 9QS

Holy Child Primary School, Belfast

Primary19.3% SEN
Ages 4-1180 pupils with SENBT11 8JF

Christ The Redeemer Primary School, Dunmurry

Primary18.5% SEN
Ages 4-11126 pupils with SENBT17 0TG

Springhill Primary School, Belfast

Primary17.3% SEN
Ages 4-1134 pupils with SENBT13 3NH

St Mary's Star of the Sea Primary School, Belfast

Primary17.3% SEN
Ages 4-1131 pupils with SENBT15 4HL

Cregagh Primary School, Belfast

Primary17.1% SEN
Ages 4-1119 pupils with SENBT6 0FL

Holy Trinity Primary School, Belfast

Primary16.8% SEN
Ages 4-11103 pupils with SENBT11 8EF

Holy Evangelist Primary School, Belfast

Primary16.4% SEN
Ages 4-1186 pupils with SENBT17 0DB

Taughmonagh Primary School, Belfast

Primary15.6% SEN
Ages 4-1138 pupils with SENBT9 6QL

Carr's Glen Primary School, Belfast

Primary15.4% SEN
Ages 4-1145 pupils with SENBT14 6QX

Mercy Primary School, Belfast

Primary15.3% SEN
Ages 4-1136 pupils with SENBT14 7GL

St Kieran's Primary School

Primary15.3% SEN
Ages 4-1147 pupils with SENBT17 0PB

Edenbrooke Primary School, Belfast

Primary14.7% SEN
Ages 4-1157 pupils with SENBT13 3GG

Seaview Primary School, Belfast

Primary14.5% SEN
Ages 4-1160 pupils with SENBT15 3NB

St Peter's Primary School, Belfast

Primary13.7% SEN
Ages 4-1139 pupils with SENBT12 4JD

Glenwood Primary School, Belfast

Primary13.2% SEN
Ages 4-1160 pupils with SENBT13 3GW

St Teresa's Primary School, Belfast

Primary13.1% SEN
Ages 4-1186 pupils with SENBT11 8BL

Holy Cross Girls' Primary School, Belfast

Primary12.9% SEN
Ages 4-1124 pupils with SENBT14 7HZ

Wheatfield Primary School, Belfast

Primary12.1% SEN
Ages 4-1124 pupils with SENBT14 7JE

St Matthew's Primary School, Belfast

Primary11.9% SEN
Ages 4-1139 pupils with SENBT5 4EW

Holy Rosary Primary School, Belfast

Primary11.5% SEN
Ages 4-1147 pupils with SENBT7 3DB

St Columban's Primary School, Belfast

Primary10.6% SEN
Ages 4-1135 pupils with SENBT14 6HH

St John the Baptist Primary School, Belfast

Primary10.5% SEN
Ages 4-1144 pupils with SENBT11 9EH

Knockbreda Primary School, Belfast

Primary10.2% SEN
Ages 4-1116 pupils with SENBT6 0JJ

Dunmurry Primary School

Primary9.9% SEN
Ages 4-1121 pupils with SENBT17 9AN

Belvoir Park Primary School, Belfast

Primary9.8% SEN
Ages 4-1124 pupils with SENBT8 7DL

Scoil Na Fuiseoige

Primary8.5% SEN
Ages 4-1117 pupils with SENBT17 0DF

Good Shepherd Primary School, Belfast

Primary6.4% SEN
Ages 4-1122 pupils with SENBT17 0PJ

Leadhill Primary School, Belfast

Primary3.3% SEN
Ages 4-115 pupils with SENBT6 9RD

Understanding SEN provision in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland operates under the Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005. It retains a Statement-based system with a five-stage Code of Practice. Here's what you need to know:

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Under the Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (SENDO), a child has SEN if they have a learning difficulty that calls for special educational provision. Northern Ireland uses a five-stage Code of Practice - Stages 1-2 are school-based support, while Stage 3 involves a Statement of SEN from the Education Authority.

Statement of Special Educational Needs

Northern Ireland still uses Statements (similar to England's former system, now replaced by EHCPs there). A Statement is a legal document from the Education Authority setting out a child's needs and the provision required. It's maintained by the EA, not the school, and comes with appeal rights to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal.

Specialist Provision in Mainstream (SPiM)

Some mainstream schools in Northern Ireland have specialist units - known as SPiM (Specialist Provision in Mainstream). These are dedicated classes within a mainstream school for children with specific needs, staffed by specialist teachers. Children benefit from both specialist support and mainstream social opportunities.

Grammar & Secondary Schools

Northern Ireland retains academic selection at age 11. Grammar schools are selective, while secondary (or "high") schools are non-selective. Both types have a SENCO and must provide SEN support. Grammar schools tend to have lower SEN rates but still have legal duties to identify and support children with SEN.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from families about SEND support in Belfast.

Parents in Belfast can request a statutory assessment from the Education Authority (EA) if they feel their child needs more support than the school can provide. You have a legal right to make this request under Article 20 of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996; use the online portal at https://send.eani.org.uk/statutory-assessment to submit your request with evidence from school and professionals. The EA will decide within 12 weeks whether to carry out the assessment and issue a Statement if needed.
Belfast's SENDIASS, called the Special Educational Needs Advice Centre (SENAC), offers free, impartial information, advice, and support to parents and children on special educational needs. They help with understanding statements, assessments, school choices, and rights, plus SENAC Parent Support provides workshops. Contact them at 028 9079 5779 or [email protected], or visit www.senac.co.uk.[data]
Belfast has 11 specialist schools for children with special educational needs, plus 38 schools with SEN units to provide extra support. These options help meet the needs of the 6,580 pupils with Statements (9.8% of pupils) and 7,773 on SEN Support (11.6%). Talk to SENAC or the EA to find the right placement for your child.[data]
The Local Offer lists all SEND services, support, and provisions available in Belfast from the Education Authority, schools, health, and social care. It helps parents find what's out there for their child's needs. Check the Education Authority website at www.eani.org.uk or contact SENAC for the Belfast-specific details and links.[data]
The Education Authority must decide within 12 weeks of your request whether to carry out a statutory assessment and if a Statement is needed. The full process involves gathering reports (called 'advices') from professionals, leading to a proposed Statement for your review before finalising. Reviews happen annually to check and update support.

Navigating SEND in Belfast?

JakTrack helps you track evidence, prepare for Statement of Special Educational Needs reviews, check benefit eligibility, and stay on top of appointments - all in one place.

See How JakTrack Helps