A group of charities says the Scottish Government must invest more in additional support for pupils who are struggling in mainstream schools
Less than £4,000 a year is spent in Scotland on each child with additional support needs such as autism or learning disabilities.
Research carried out by a coalition of charities and children’s bodies has found that additional support for pupils with educational barriers has been cut by almost £500 or 11% since 2012.
Children who were previously educated outside of mainstream schools are now being included but they are not getting the specialist help they need, the organisations have said.
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC) has demanded the Scottish Government invest more in additional support needs (ASN) to ensure all pupils are able to achieve their potential in mainstream schools.
The call comes in its submission to a Scottish Government consultation on guidance on mainstreaming, the principle that all children and young people be educated in a mainstream school environment, unless exceptional circumstances apply.
The coalition cites the poor experience many children have in such an environment as clear evidence that more needs to be done if genuine inclusion is to be achieved.
Kenny Graham, head of education at Falkland House School and coalition member, said: "A presumption of mainstreaming is challenging in that, especially for children with ADHD, autism, and Tourette's, many teachers lack the proper training in how to identify these conditions and in how best to support the child.
"Mainstreaming should not simply mean entering the gates of a local school. It should mean inclusion in the aspiration of a mainstream curriculum with all the positive experiences and outcomes that should entail, regardless of where that school is.
“It should mean inclusion in a school community that supports real development and growth, not education in a segregated class with alternate break times. It should mean good mental and emotional well-being.”
In its submission, the SCSC cites figures that show since 2012 the number of pupils in mainstream primary and secondary schools with ASN has risen by 47.3 per cent, from 111,058 to 163,594 (24.1 per cent of pupils).
While the number of overall staff in schools, encompassing teachers, ASN auxiliaries and behaviour support staff, has dropped by three per cent over the same period, from 16,377 to 15,880.
Moreover, average per-pupil spending by local authorities on additional support for learning has fallen from £4,276 in 2012/13 to £3,817 in 2015/16, amounting to £459 per pupil and representing an 11% cut.
This combination of increasing demand on services set against a background of cuts to public services and delays in identification, assessment and intervention, means that many children and young people with ASN are missing out on the classroom support they so vitally need.
The requirement to provide education in a mainstream setting for children and young people with ASN, including physical disabilities, learning difficulties and social, emotional or behavioural problems, has been in legislation since 2002.
The coalition reaffirmed its support of mainstreaming as a central pillar of inclusive education, however emphasised that a severe lack of resources was preventing mainstream schools being able to fully support pupils with ASN.
The coalition also highlighted that local authorities must be assisted to increase the number of special school/unit places available, reflecting the rising numbers of children and young people with complex or specific needs. These places may be provided by the local authority or independent sector, on a wider geographic basis.
