Call for Scottish government to spend Westminster windfall on school ASN provision

GMB Scotland is calling for ministers to prioritise “any additional budget headroom” from increased Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) spending in English schools.

Specifically, the union wants cash ring fenced for Pupil Support Assistants (PSA).

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Keir Greenaway, the union’s Senior Organiser, has written to cabinet secretary Jenny Gilruth to call for further investment in ASN provision.

While acknowledging the government’s ongoing work in this area, Mr Greenaway says GMB members in schools are increasingly raising concerns about capacity.

He said: “Across our membership, including those working in schools and vital local authority services, we continue to hear consistent concerns about capacity, the availability and resourcing of PSAs, and the impact of these gaps in provision on pupils, families, and staff.”

Last month the UK government pledged additional investment and reform of SEND education with a commitment of specialist support in every school and community in England.

Rachel Reeves also announced the Department for Education’s budget would increase by £3.5 billion per annum by 2028-29 over what had been previously planned in the Autumn Budget 2025.

Mr Greenaway said the additional UK funding would be a “critical opportunity” for the Scottish government to further invest in ASN provision.

But, he added, this must prioritise PSAs.

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“Any comparable approach in Scotland will be misplaced if it does not prioritise the Pupil Support Assistant workforce first and foremost,” he said.

“Pupil Support Assistants are central to delivering ASN provision in our schools, and strengthening ASN capacity in practice means increasing Pupil Support Assistant numbers and ensuring they are properly valued through up-to-date job evaluations, supported, and resourced to do this vital work.”

GMB Scotland is now seeking clarity from Ms Gilruth on what assessment has been made for how the Barnett consequentials might be used and over what time period.

The union is also seeking an increase in PSA numbers.

Mr Greenaway added: “GMB Scotland believes there is a strong case for strengthening ASN capacity in a way that benefits pupils and properly supports the workforce.

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“Many Pupil Support Assistants are GMB Scotland members, and they are working hard under significant pressure.”

A Scottish government spokesman said the consequentials confirmed by the UK government represent less than half of one per cent of the Scottish government budget over three years.

He said: ”We have 17,046 pupil support assistants in Scotland – the second highest level on record – as a direct result of our continued £15m annual investment.”

The spokesman added that the government is investing a further £28m to “support the ASN workforce,in addition to record spend of over £1 billion by local authorities on ASN in 2024-25.”

“We have also committed to a wider review to see what more can be done to support pupils and staff,” he said.

The number of pupils with ASN in Scottish schools has risen significantly over the past decade with some classrooms seeing as many as 60 per cent of pupils considered as having ASN.

Teachers say the pressures on supporting young people with such a wide array of complex needs is placing an increasing burden on schools.