The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Call to act over cuts in schools’ support staff
Education: Highland Council experiences 13% reduction
Aberdeen has suffered the highest level of cuts to additional support needs (ASN) in Scotland, with a 49% funding drop in the last four years.
Figures from the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), which campaigns to improve services for vulnerable children and young people, also revealed Moray experienced a funding decrease of 42%.
Highland Council saw a 13% reduction during the same period.
With an 11% national drop, an SCSC spokesman called on incoming council administrations and the Scottish Government to act urgently and increase funding to tackle
He said: “These figures are a wake-up call and it is in all our best interests that those with additional support needs get the care and support that they need.
“Councils are facing a difficult financial environment, but they play an absolutely vital role in meeting the additional support needs of children and young people.
“We urge incoming council administrations to work with the Scottish Government and put children and young people with ASN at the very heart of their policy commitments and look for them to increase funding for this group.
“These young people concerns. have a right to a learning and teaching process that suits them best and, if we are to close the educational attainment gap and improve educational outcomes, it’s vital we address their needs.”
Scottish Conservative mental health spokesman Miles Briggs MSP added: “The SNP has repeatedly declared that education is a major priority – but once again its actions in government suggest otherwise and don’t match rhetoric.
“It makes no sense whatsoever, at a time when the number of pupils being identified with additional support needs is growing, for funding to be so significantly slashed.
“These unfair cuts are badly letting down many pupils who need extra support, and doing nothing to close the stubborn attainment gap.”
Scottish Labour inequalities spokeswoman Monica Lennon said: “Time and again, the SNP has said education is its numberone priority, but here is another story to prove it is letting pupils, teachers and parents down.
“Since the SNP came to power, there are more than its 4,000 fewer teachers and 1,000 fewer support staff. How many more cuts can our schools take?”
A Scottish Government spokesman responded: “Between 2012 and 2016, spending on additional support needs increased by over £80million (16%).
“During the same period, the number of pupils recorded as having additional support needs also increased significantly, partly due to increases in awareness and recognition, and partly as a result of improvements to the way statistics are recorded.
“Importantly, these pupils have always received support within the system – the statistics now recognise this.”
“Put children and young people with ASN at the very heart of their policy”