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25 October 2023
More than a third of children and young people in Scotland’s public and grant-maintained schools have an identified additional support need. Working under the direction of the Scottish Government’s policies, local authorities are responsible for identifying, providing and reviewing the additional support needs of children and young people.
The Committee is launching its inquiry with a call for people to share their experiences of how services are provided to people with additional support needs. The Committee is keen to hear from parents, teachers, support staff, carers, pupils themselves and support organisations.
The inquiry will consider how Scottish legislation that aimed to support children and young people, including 2004’s Additional Support for Learning Act, has been implemented and is working in practice.
The Committee is particularly interested in hearing views about the presumption that children and young people should receive a ‘mainstream education’, which aims to ensure they could be included alongside their peers; the impact of COVID-19 on the availability of additional support; and what happens when people are in dispute with their local authority over the services provided to a child or young person.
Sue Webber MSP, Convener of the Education, Children and Young People Committee, said:
“Earlier this year, the Additional Support for Learning Project Board told us about its role in improving the support that is available for children with additional support needs, but it acknowledged that there is not a quick fix to the recommendations laid out by the Morgan Review.
“We would like to hear what people with additional support needs, parents and carers, teachers and support organisations make of the current system and the services that local authorities and schools provide.
“If you have experience of accessing additional support for learning in mainstream education or a specialist unit, views on the impact of COVID-19 on the delivery of additional support for learning, or have been involved in discussions about the support a child or young person receives, please get in touch.”
The Committee’s call for views, which is now open, will close on 31 December 2023. Variations of the call for views are available in an Easy Read format and British Sign Language.
Background
People can share their views here - the first two calls for views will open at midnight tonight:
Public evidence sessions on the inquiry are likely to take place in early 2024, following the closure of the call for views.
A clip of the Convener reading her quote is attached to this release for use on radio.
Existing legislation that will come up in this inquiry
Section 15 of the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000, introduced a presumption of mainstreaming for children and young people with ASN except under certain circumstances. Section 15 came into force in force in August 2003.
The main provisions of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 introduced the legal framework for the provision of additional support for learning. The framework meant that, in providing school education, local authorities must identify and then make adequate and efficient provision for the additional support needs of children and young people.
The Morgan Review
The Morgan Review was published in 2020. It intended to explore how additional support for learning (ASL) works in practice, across early learning and childcare centres, primary, secondary and special schools (including enhanced provision, services and units).
In response to the recommendations in the Review, the Scottish Government published an action plan a which set out how the recommendations would be taken forward. It also set up The Additional Support for Learning Project Board to “support the monitoring of implementation and oversee delivery of additional support for learning and inclusion policy, including through delivery of the Additional Support for Learning (ASL) Action Plan and its associated workstreams.”