School cuts could lead to a ‘lost generation’ of Scots youngsters

● Calls for more support for children with additional needs

Scotland faces a “lost generation” of children because of teaching cuts for the most vulnerable youngsters, campaigners have warned.

Hundreds of teachers specialising in dealing with pupils who have additional support needs (ASN) have been axed from Scotland’s schools since 2012, with the number of support staff also falling.

Thescottishchildren’sservices Coalition (SCSC) is now calling for these cuts to be reversed amid concerns that youngsters are no longer getting the “care and support” they need in the classroom.

It is calling on incoming council administrations to put young people’s needs at the heart of future policy commitments.

SCSC member Kenny Graham, of Falkland House School, Fife, said Scotland faces a “lost generation” of children with ASN.

He added: “Councils are facing a difficult financial environment but they play an absolutely vital role in meeting the additional support needs ofchildrenandyoungpeople.”

The body today launched its council election manifesto which includes a plea for increased funding in young people’s services dealing with children with additional sup- port needs. It also calls for better training for ASN workers, independent advocacy for children who have been in care and a councillor who would become a children’s mental health champion.

The SCSC warned of a “false economy” in cutting children’s services, which it says could become a costly burden on society and the economy.

It also asked incoming council administrations to protect vital services for young people with dyslexia, autism and mental health problems.

The coalition says more than 170,000 young people (24.9 per cent) in Scotland’s schools are classed as having ASN, which is a 44 per cent increase since 2012.

But since then, the number of specialist ASN teachers in local authority primary and secondary schools has fallen by 16 per cent, from 2,146 to 1,799, and the number of pupil support staff has fallen by 5 per cent, the group said.

Thescschascalledforstaffingcutstobereversedtoallow the closure of the educational attainment gap.

Mr Graham added: “We urge incoming council administrations to put services that impact on vulnerable children and young people at the very heart of their policy commitments, and look for them to increase funding for these.

“Failing to do so amounts to a false economy because if their needs are not met they often go on to become a costly burden on society.”

Other demands in its manifesto include increased spethese cialist provision for children and young people, providing better training, and access to experienced counsellors.

There should also be a right to independent advocacy for youngsters, including those with experience in the care system.

Councils should also elect one member as a champion for mental health, according to the manifesto launched today by the SCSC, which will involved awareness-raising in the development of council policies and strategies in public forums.

The role would also involve leading discussions on mental health with NHS organisations in their local area and speaking with schools, business leaders and communities about the issue.