Parents have told a Scottish parliamentary committee of ‘harrowing’ experiences due to the education system’s lack of support for children with additional needs.
A report published yesterday by Scotland’s Education and Skills Committee concluded the policy of an inclusive education for children with additional support needs was ‘not functioning properly’ in many local authority areas.
The committee found a lack of staff and coordinated support meant that many children were struggling to achieve within the Scottish school system. They said this was felt most acutely in the more deprived areas.
Over 100 parents raised concerns in submissions to the committee with what the final report summary described as ‘harrowing first hand experiences’.
Some of the parents reported having to fight for the rights of their children ‘every step of the way’ in order to get additional support for them in schools.
The recorded number of children with additional support needs in Scotland has more than doubled since 2010, in large part because of better recognition and changes in recording practice.
The committee called on the Scottish government to undertake a financial review as a basis to start discussions with local authorities on future funding.
‘The committee was overwhelmed with the response it got from parents, teachers and those who live and work with children with additional support needs,’ said committee convenor James Dornan.
‘There is still widespread support for the policy of inclusion and we also heard about the positive difference support can make to children.
‘But we also heard about what can happen when there is not the staff and support to help those most in need. For example there is a very real concern that some children feel more excluded in a mainstream school setting than they may have done in a special school.’
