Special educational needs - A Guide for Parents

The law dealing with Special Education in Northern Ireland is contained in the The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 as amended by The Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (SENDO).  

The Department of Education has provided guidance for Boards and schools in the form of a Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs and also a Supplement to the Code of Practice, effective from 1st September 2005, which was produced as result of SENDO.    

Schools, Boards and health and social services authorities must consider the advice given in the Code of Practice when deciding what they should do for children with special educational needs.

This booklet is to help you to understand:

• What special educational needs are.
• What schools, boards and others can do to help.
• What your rights are.
• How you can play a full part in your child's education.

An electronic version of the booklet is available for viewing by following this link to Special educational needs - A guide for parents contents page.

A copy of this booklet is also available by writing to:

Or alternatively use the contact us button at the top of the page and ask for Special Education Branch.