Early intervention vital to support huge rise in additional needs pupils in Scots schools
Additional support needs among Scottish pupils are soaring - and the government is being pushed to act
Early intervention is key to tackle the "exponential growth" in children with additional support needs (ASN).
A new report has set out advice for the Scottish government as schools struggle to cope with rising numbers of pupils deemed to have ASN.
Former chief inspector of education Janie McManus has highlighted the growing gap between the support pupils should have and the reality of provision.
Some 43 per cent - or 300,000 children - are categorised as ASN with the default being that they should be educated in mainstream schools.
Teachers, however, say they are struggling to manage classrooms where so many children have complex or different needs.
Ms McManus’s report says the change is such that needs once considered “additional” are now a routine part of classroom life.
This, the report adds, is “placing greater demands on time, expertise, and coordination”.
The range of issues considered ASN range from neurodivergence, communication needs, dysregulation, and developmental delays at earlier ages to having diabetes or caring responsibilities at home.
Gifted children or bilingual are also considered ASN.
Education secretary Jenny Gilruth said the report’s aim is to improve the consistency of support for ASN pupils across the country.
Currently, ASN provision is in the gift of local authorities and individual head teachers without a country-wide template for schools and nurseries to follow.
Ms McManus’s report says early intervention is often overlooked due to resources and capacity but is necessary to make improvements in schools.
It says staff in nurseries have also reported a rise in the number of two and three-year-olds needing support.
Families are experiencing delays in accessing specialist support and schools and local authorities also face hurdles.
Requirements include a consistent national framework, ongoing professional development for staff and sufficient capacity to make effective long-term decisions.
It also makes six recommendations, such as looking at staffing and existing legislation and guidance.
Ms Gilruth said the Scottish government has invested additional funding for ASN.
“Across the country our teachers and school staff display extraordinary commitment working with pupils with ASN to provide a nurturing, supportive environment,” she added.
Ms Gilruth also confirmed that an app to tackle paperwork and free up teachers’ time to focus on pupil needs is planned to be rolled out more widely later this year.
However, the roll out depends on its performance in ongoing pilots in six council areas.
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Mike Corbett, NASUWT teaching union Scotland National Official, said the report recommendations were “welcome” but that “rapid improvements” are needed.
“The current system of ASN provision is failing pupils, families and teachers and it is clear that a fundamental rethink is needed,” he said.
“This review must be the starting point for rapid improvements in the way in which ASL is resourced and provided in schools.”
Andrea Bradley, EIS General Secretary, said: "The current EIS workload dispute has highlighted the need for additional investment in more staff in our schools, to allow teachers to better meet the diverse needs of pupils and to ensure that all pupils can receive the tailored support that they require to make the most of their opportunities in school."
Matt Wrack, General Secretary of the teaching union, said: “We have not been made aware of the plans to introduce a new app to streamline administrative tasks and free up teachers’ time. While not opposed to the idea of an app in principle, we would expect to have been given some details about these plans and how it is envisaged the app will be used in practice by teachers.
“As such it is difficult to evaluate at this stage how useful any app will be in helping to drive down teachers’ workload. Technology is no substitute for adequate staffing on the ground in schools to ensure that the needs of all pupils, including those with ASN, can be met.”
Unison Scotland's education spokesperson Sylivia Haughney said: “Services for children with additional support needs have been cut to the bone.
“Education staff and parents will tell you they need a step change in investment into children’s services, including early learning and childcare.
“Today’s announcement is more warm words and intentions without adequate funding to ensure we meet our aims to get it right for every child.
“Staff need training, and increased resources if we are ever going to deliver the change children need.”
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