IMPACT’s Special Education Needs Organisers’ (SENOs) branch has secured agreement on the formation of a working group to examine reducing workloads without affecting services to children with special needs.

Talks with management followed a decision by the branch to serve notice of a work to rule in October. The dispute followed a refusal of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to increase the number of SENOs employed by the Council. IMPACT official Tony Martin explained, “There’s been a dramatic increase in workload due to the chronic understaffing at the SENO grade.

“The service has lost 18 posts since 2009. The branch is seeking agreement on a realistic new staffing structure that provides sufficient staff to ensure adequate service provision.

“The loss of posts since 2009 has led to a dramatic increase in the workload for existing SENOs, and this has had a knock-on effect on the delivery of services. This is why we felt industrial action had become necessary. SENO members have an absolute commitment to ensuring the service is properly staffed.

“The formation of the working group, which will have a short turnaround time, means that we can begin to look at resolving the issue without any disruption.” he said.

IMPACT’s SENO members are employed by the NCSE to asses and process applications for additional supports for pupils with special education needs. The SENOs provide a crucial link between schools, the NCSE and parents for the delivery of SNA and home tuition services.