A Lisburn special school governor has criticised a Stormont "boycott" in the wake of a special needs education funding crisis.
The Education Authority (EA) has publicly warned of a "significant shortfall" in places for nursery and primary one pupils in special schools across Northern Ireland.
A surge in demand for more than an additional 850 special educational needs places has caused a "huge amount" of worried parents scrambling for their children's admission.
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Lisburn South Alliance rep, Amanda Grehan said: "As a board of governor for Parkview Special School, I know first-hand the essential role special schools play.
"Among other things, they provide vital early intervention and essential support for young children with special educational needs and their families.
"It is appalling to hear that special schools may not be able to provide nursery placements to pupils for the next academic year.
"It is unacceptable that children with special educational needs are collateral damage thanks to the current political stalemate.
"I am being contacted by a huge amount of concerned parents on a daily basis, who are worried sick that their children will not have a nursery or school place come this September."
The school governor added: "Special schools have highly trained experienced staff, specialised equipment and facilities and most importantly a speech and language therapist, occupational health therapist and physiotherapist all on site.
"These professionals all work in close collaboration with school staff to ensure the full needs of the young child are met at the earliest possible stage, through individualised learning programmes.
"We all agree that early intervention is the best way to support the well-being and development of children with SEN (special education needs) and support them in establishing the key skills required for primary one."
An EA strategy has seen principals of mainstream primary schools being asked if they can open specialist learning support units to admit pupils with severe learning difficulties (SLD).
Alderman Grehan said: "Children have a fundamental right to education and any move to remove some nursery places is a failure on behalf of the Education Authority.
"They and their parents deserve support, and instead, they are having to fight every inch of the way for everything.
"My Alliance colleagues and I will continue to push the EA and Department of Education to commit to fully resourcing and funding special education services as a priority.
"The DUP needs to end its boycott and restore a reformed Executive, before these children are left further behind."
In contrast to Northern Ireland, other parts fo the UK are progressing with special needs education.
Thousands more specialist school places will be created in England with a total of 33 local authorities set for new dedicated special school builds
The Local Democracy Service contacted the EA for an update on the admissions situation.
Una Turbitt, the EA's Interim Director for Children and Young People’s Services, said: “We absolutely recognise that this is an extremely anxious time for those parents and children waiting for the confirmation of a school place. All children with statements are equally entitled to a place which is appropriate to meet their needs.
“We would like to reassure parents that those children with profound special educational and medical needs will still be offered a special school place.
“The (SEN) placement process for Primary 7 pupils is reaching conclusion with the majority of pupils already placed.
"Families still awaiting confirmation of placement will be contacted during the week commencing 26 June 2023."
She added: “In identified areas of high demand, the focus is now on the placement of Primary 1 pupils requiring a special school place.
"Consequently, this may mean that some special schools in the areas with the greatest pressure will have a reduced nursery intake this year and more pre-school pupils offered alternative supported provision in other settings.
"This could be in a specialist class within a mainstream setting or in a mainstream class with a package of support that ensures their needs are fully met.
"Please be assured that we are working to ensure that all pre-school children with SEN will still be offered a place which provides the additional support they need to maximise the potential of their pre-school year.
“Parents of children who are undergoing statutory assessment and have applied through the Open Enrolment Process for a Mainstream School placement are advised to accept their mainstream offer whilst their statutory assessment process continues.
"We will then engage directly with the families involved to discuss all the options available and identify an appropriate placement for each child.
“The EA is working to ensure all children will be placed appropriately as soon as possible and fully understands the importance of keeping parents informed of progress regarding their child’s school placement.
"SEN Link Officers will be in contact with all parents of pupils awaiting placement by the week beginning 26 June 2023 at the latest.
"If you have not been contacted by Friday 30 June 5pm, please email your SEN Link Officer directly on Monday 3 July 2023 or call the SEN Helpdesk on 028 9598 5960 where staff will be available to help you.
“I want to acknowledge the patience and understanding of the families impacted and the support being provided by school principals in this very challenging situation.
"We will do everything possible to ensure all children are placed with the support that they need to be happy, learning and succeeding.”
