Young people’s commissioner: Children with support needs denied chance to reach their full potential
Call for action to redress balance
Young people with additional support needs – including those on the autism spectrum – are being held back because they are unable to access the same educational opportunities as their peers, Scotland’s children’s commissioner has warned.
Almost a third of school-aged children and young people are now assessed to have additional support needs (ASN).
But campaigners claim that despite a 2019 review of additional support for learning, which found young people needed more help to “flourish and fulfil their potential”, too many ASN children are still being failed by the Scottish education system. And while they acknowledge challenges such as the lack of resourcing and large classes, they called for local authorities to meet their statutory obligations.
Bruce Adamson, Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland, said: “Schools and local authorities are under an obligation to assess and meet a child’s needs and include the child’s views about what they need in order to develop to their fullest potential.
“However, too many local authorities are not complying with their legal duties. We are deeply concerned that the pandemic has negatively impacted many children with disabilities or other additional support needs. The human rights of disabled children must be prioritised as quickly as possible.”
Schools have a legal obligation to make adjustments if a child is disadvantaged by a school rule or practice because of their disability, or by the failure to provide adequate support. Assessing whether these changes are “reasonable” includes looking at cost, school resources and health and safety issues.
The law also states schools should look to make these adjustments in advance,to ensure all pupils can access and participate in their education fully. Under the Equality Act, families do not need to have a formal diagnosis before requesting adjustments.
The comments come as The Ferret and The Sunday Post reveal the harrowing story of a young man’s fight to stay in mainstream education and achieve his ambition to go to university.
Over the years Robbie, 22, who asked to use his first name only, faced restraint, seclusion and exclusions from school.
His mother, Debbie Best, co-founder of parent-peer support group Differabled, claims his mental health was almost “destroyed” in the process. Despite his many setbacks, this summer Robbie graduated from Glasgow University with a 2:1 degree.
Jan Savage, director of learning disability charity Enable Scotland, said: “There needs to be root-and-branch reform. Fundamentally, we need more resources in schools.
“We need more classroom assistants and training in positive support strategies.
“There also needs to be far greater partnership working with parents, who know what works with their child. There’s a need to approach aspiration without limits.”
Wendy Clark, who set up Differabled with Best in 2014, says too many families are forced out of the education system altogether. “It is an extremely sad situation for any family to be placed in but we hear from those in that situation on a daily basis,” she said.
Yet she claimed it was essential not to pit parents against teachers but instead focus on system change and learn from schools who were already adopting a more inclusive approach. She said: “There are some wonderful schools who are providing the best that they can. Quite often these schools are not leading the league tables but they offer understanding, empathy and an individualised approach which is what our children need.”