Special Schools

Special Education -> Special Schools

The Special Schools Service facilitates a cross-directorate, multi-disciplinary approach to supporting Special Schools, promoting and facilitating collaboration across Education and Health to help meet the complex needs of children and young people. A Designated Support Officer is assigned to each Special School, to assist leadership teams in resolving operational challenges, such as those linked to the expansion of the special school estate, to staffing pressures or to the expertise and resourcing required in meeting complex pupil needs.

The Special Schools Service also has full responsibility for the allocation and review of core staffing (teaching and non-teaching) across each of the 40 Special Schools, and for the financial management of the associated budget. A Designated Budgetary Officer is assigned to each Special School, offering support, training and guidance to senior leadership, to improve and enhance financial management.

The Service offers the following Professional development opportunities for Special Schools on request, in the following areas:

Early Career Teacher (ECT) Training
To meet the specific professional development needs of ECT working in Special Schools, specifically tailored to the special school environment. This includes a programme delivered across Term 1 & 2 designed to help teachers understand and meet the needs of their pupils, facilitate regional cluster groups and encourage and develop peer support.

This training can be requested by contacting Gillian Dowds Gillian.Dowds@eani.org.uk or Denise White Denise.White@eani.org.uk

Restorative Practice

Restorative Practices are evidenced to help develop individual’s resilience so that they can navigate difficulties in a positive way. Restorative approaches address and repair relationships that have been broken through conflict and harm, focusing on relationships, communication and connections.

Professional development options available in this area are as follows:

1. Introduction to Restorative Practice
2. Getting started with Restorative Practice
3. Facilitation Skills for Restorative Practice
4. Restorative Circles Training
5. Peer Mentor Programme

This training can be requested by contacting Gillian Dowds Gillian.Dowds@eani.org.uk

Manual Handling Training
This training is designed for handling children and young people with special needs and can be requested by contacting Thomas McLaughlin (Armagh) Thomas.McLaughlin@eani.org.uk

Summer Scheme Staff Training
Professional development opportunities are available to staff in special schools, specifically tailored to the special school environment in preparation for Summer Scheme.
This training can be requested by contacting Mary Loughran Mary.Loughran@eani.org.uk

Financial Management
Professional development options available in this area are as follows:

• Use of Finance Reports - Designed for Principals, focusing on Financial reporting, such as Expenditure, Earmarked, Encumbrance, Requisitions
• Use of I-Procurement – Designed for Principals, focusing on the use of the I-Procurement system, including coding

This training can be requested by contacting Bernie Donnelly Bernie.Donnelly@eani.org.uk or Catherine Hull Catherine.Hull@eani.org.uk

Professional learning and development opportunities for special school staff throughout 2025/26.