Fury over changes to services for kids with additional needs
Plans are labelled a‘supermarket-value’model
Worried parents have slammed a Renfrewshire Council plan for children with additional support needs by claiming it’s a “supermarket-value” model.
Instead of children being transported to specialised bases, the proposal would see them receiving support within one of four areas.
Each area would see headteachers allocating resources as needed, allowing specialised teachers to work with primary and secondary staff within mainstream schools, as well as in a number of inclusion hubs.
However, the proposed changes have angered parents, who are demanding answers on whether there are plans to close existing additional support needs (ASN) bases across Renfrewshire.
Kim Coutts’ son Isaac, aged four, has autism and she’s concerned he’ll be part of a group of children being used as “guinea pigs” for the new model due to be implemented in August 2019.
She said: “They’re changing a service that is crying out for support to a supermarket-value style of support.
“It’s an inferior product. It’s a box ticking exercise.”
A report on the review of support for children with ASN was approved at the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board on November 1.
Kim has taken issue with some of its content, including the model’s vision, which “is to develop the ethos and expectation that support to children and young people is outcome-focused and time-limited.”
She said: “One thing that screams alarm bells is ‘outcome-focused and time-limited’, so are they just going to be assessing our children’s needs?
“They’re just going to churn children out. It’s ridiculous. No one is going to fix my child. He doesn’t need fixing, he needs support.
“They’re talking about up-skilling staff, which we welcome, but should we not do that first before we throw them and the kids into the deep end of the pool?”
Kim also took aim at the council, saying the change would result in “better value”.
The report read: “The review of the additional support needs strategy will result in better value for the council through the targeted deployment of support staff in an effective manner.”
Kim added: “Better value? Really? I welcome an improvement in support for children but this definitely seems like a money-saving exercise.
“Parents are finding out about this through other parents. If no one had told me, I wouldn’t have known.”
Sandra Webster, from Glenburn, has a son with autism who attends an ASN base at St Benedict’s High School, in Linwood.
She is concerned that her son Callum, 15, will be shoehorned into a mainstream environment.
“He wouldn’t manage in a mainstream school,” Sandra said. “He’s a clever boy, but he spends time in the base supported so well by workers and teachers.
“Some of his behaviour might seem inappropriate to other children, so that worries me.
“He finds it difficult to talk in groups. He’s solitary, so he doesn’t talk about his difficulties.”
However, Renfrewshire Council has moved to calm fears and said it will be working with families and schools as part of the review.
A spokesman said: “We want all children to be able to fulfil their potential and are developing a model in Renfrewshire to enable children with additional support needs and their families to be supported locally, which in turn will reduce any travel time children may face.
“This is not about moving children with additional support needs from alternative provision into mainstream education or about closing facilities, but ensuring that they get the best possible support.
“We will be working with families, staff and headteachers in the coming months to look at how this is best delivered and any changes to existing provision will only be made, in conjunction with those involved, to further enhance the support they receive.”