Chamber and committees

I thank everyone for their in-depth replies. In order to provide direction to the committee, can the panellists tell us whether, following the pandemic and the difficulties that everyone, especially children with ASN, has experienced, they have seen good practice in which schools and families are working together to support re-engagement with learning that would act as a guide or a symbol for others in how to carry out their work?

That is interesting. I will cheat slightly and lift some information from somewhere else. You will no doubt have seen Glasgow City Council’s response. One element of it says:

“The Tribunal process could perhaps benefit from processes which would allow the revisiting of outcomes and impact on children, families and local authority staff to improve partnership working and support earlier resolution of conflicts.”

That would include processes in relation to costs, would it not?

Thank you for your excellent answers, because you are giving us plenty to think about.

When the tribunal is determining placing requests, is assessing and considering the costs to local authorities part of your consideration and, if so, how?

Effectively, therefore, the tribunal is there for the rights and benefits of the child—that is what you are working on.

That is excellent—thank you.

I thank the panel for the breadth and depth of their replies. I will give you a bit of a breadth-and-depth opportunity, if you like. In 2019, the Scottish Government published guidance on the presumption to provide education in a mainstream setting. Given the tight financial situation that the public sector in Scotland faces, where might any additional resource have the most impact in supporting outcomes for pupils with additional support needs?

Obviously, everybody would want to avoid disputes and all that sort of thing.

I suppose that such provision of information about why their children are in the situation in which they are being educated and a bit more bringing of parents and carers on board would avoid having to take things to that advanced position.

I was going to be taking over your seat anyway. [Laughter.] I am sorry—carry on.

That is very helpful. Thank you very much.