STOP THE CUTS: Don’t Balance the Books on the Backs of our Children!

Protect SEN transport.  Protect school meals.  Protect educational opportunity.  Put children first.

Stop the Cuts. Protect Our Children. Fund Education Properly.

We, the undersigned, call on the Minister of Education, the Department of Education and the Education Authority to immediately halt the proposed education cuts and protect essential services for children and families across Northern Ireland.

The Education Authority has announced a further £20 million in cuts on top of previous reductions. These measures include changes to transport support for children with special educational needs, increases in school meal costs, restrictions on school spending and cuts to vital support programmes.

These are not abstract budgetary decisions. They are decisions that will directly affect children’s ability to access education, participate fully in school life and receive the support they need to thrive.

We believe:

• Every child has the right to access education regardless of ability, family income or background.
• Children with special educational needs must not be disadvantaged by cuts to transport services.
• Families should not be burdened with increased school meal costs during an ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
• School leaders, teachers and principals must be trusted to make decisions about what their pupils need.
• Schools should not be forced to reduce essential programmes because of administrative cuts.
• Educational opportunities should be expanded, not restricted.
• Children should never become collateral damage in political disputes or budget exercises.

Parents, teachers, classroom assistants, school leaders and communities already face immense pressures. Rather than supporting them, these cuts threaten to make an already difficult situation even worse.

While political attention has been dominated by manufactured rows and constitutional disputes, real decisions are being taken that affect real children every day. Families deserve action, not distractions. They deserve investment, not cuts.

Therefore, we call for:

1. An immediate reversal of proposed cuts to SEN transport services.
2. The cancellation of planned increases in school meal charges.
3. The restoration of school programme and contingency funding.
4. The removal of excessive purchasing restrictions on schools.
5. A commitment to protect frontline educational services from future cuts.
6. A fully funded plan that puts children, families and educational outcomes first.

Every child matters.

Every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Every child deserves better than cuts.

Sign this petition today and stand up for children, families and the future of education.