NEW CENTRAL SUPPORT LINE FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

Carla Lockhart MP • February 5, 2025

Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart has welcomed the nee support line for Special Educational Needs children. Parents and carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) often face significant challenges in accessing the right support for their child’s education. In a welcome step forward, the Education Authority has launched a new central contact number, making it easier for families to get the assistance they need. 

The SEND Central helpline, available on 028 9031 7777, will connect callers directly to key services: 



- Press 1 for Statutory Assessment Review Service (SARS) 

- Press 2 for SEND Advice and Information 

- Press 3 for SEND Support Services 


The helpline will operate Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM. 


Welcoming the introduction of this new service, Carla Lockhart, MP for Upper Bann, said: 


"For too long, parents and carers of children with special educational needs have struggled to get clear and timely guidance from the Education Authority. I know from speaking to families in Upper Bann that the process can often feel overwhelming, with delays and confusion about who to contact for help.


This new central contact number is a step in the right direction. It should make it easier for parents to get the information and support they need without being passed from one department to another. However, I will continue to monitor how effectively it works in practice, ensuring that it delivers real improvements for families.


If any parents in Upper Bann experience difficulties accessing the support they need, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am here to help and will continue to fight for better SEND provision for local families."


Share

MP urges finance Minister to review publicly funded food procurement for schools in NI

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 25, 2026
DUP Agriculture spokesperson, Carla Lockhart MP, has criticised the Education Authority for its lack of transparency, following confirmation that halal meat is being unknowingly served in Northern Ireland schools.

Lockhart Calls for Clarity on Single-Sex Spaces

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 25, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart , has called on the Government to urgently provide clear guidance on the protection of single-sex spaces in workplaces, following a cross-party meeting at Westminster with nurses involved in high-profile legal cases.

Lockhart Supports Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal and Calls for Improved End of Life Care

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 24, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart , has pledged her support for improved palliative and end of life care services following her attendance at Marie Curie ’s Great Daffodil Appeal event in Parliament.

Lockhart Welcomes Strong Turnout for Church Funding Booklet Launch

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 24, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart , has welcomed a strong turnout at the launch of her Church Funding Booklet at Oxford Island, with more than 140 people in attendance from churches and faith-based organisations across the constituency and beyond.

Lockhart Welcomes Launch of ‘4ever Mums’ Initiative in Lurgan

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 24, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart , has welcomed the launch of a new initiative aimed at supporting women and mothers in Lurgan.

Lockhart Praises Community Support During NI-Wide Hospice Collection

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 24, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart , has praised the generosity of the local community and the dedication of volunteers after taking part in a Northern Ireland-wide Big Bucket Collection in Banbridge in support of Evora Hospice .

Lockhart Attends Series of Community Events Across Upper Bann

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 24, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart , has spent a busy Saturday attending a wide range of community, church and charity events across the constituency.

Lockhart Honours Esther Halliday for 55 Years of Service

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 24, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart has paid tribute to Mrs Esther Halliday from Waringstown following an extraordinary 55 years of service within the Health Trust, including more than four decades dedicated to maternity care. 

Lockhart supports call for core standards on UK food imports

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 24, 2026
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has reaffirmed her support, calling for stronger protections for local farmers, after attending a Westminster reception hosted jointly by the NFU, RSPCA and WWF.

MP highlights need for access to tractor training courses for teenagers at CAFRE

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 24, 2026
Carla Lockhart MP has called for urgent action to expand access to the Safe Operation of Tractors training for young people, warning that current limitations risk undermining vital farm safety efforts.