Enable Scotland has released early results of a survey into the education of pupils with a learning disability - those interested can take part until 31 August
Around 70% of Scottish pupils with a learning disability don’t get enough help and time from teachers, early indications of new research has found.
Enable Scotland is currently surveying young people with learning difficulties, their parents and teachers to feed into a national campaign aimed at reshaping education for students with additional support needs across Scotland.
Early indications of the results of the survey shows a stark picture with pupils claiming they don’t get enough help and 94% of parents saying they feel schools do not receive enough resources to work with pupils with additional needs.
Talking about the experiences of young people with learning disabilities in schools has become an elephant in the room
Jan Savage, Enable Scotland’s director of campaigns, said the research was sparked after the charity’s members told staff that a truly inclusive education is far from a reality for many.
Verbal evidence from its members pointed to many young people who have learning disabilities being excluded by friends and peers; from curriculum and classroom and from opportunities and activities that make up every part of school life.
“Talking about the experiences of young people with learning disabilities in schools has become an elephant in the room,” Savage said.
“We wanted to open that conversation up and find out what was really going on, backed by hard evidence based on real-life experiences.”
The charity will use the responses to inform a national campaign for change to ensure their members and all young people with additional support needs are able to live the lives they deserve.
It will present a summary of responses to the Scottish Government, as part of the government’s consultation on guidance on the presumption to mainstream for pupils with additional support needs.
There is still time to fill out the survey. Young people, their parents, teachers and education staff are invited to do so by clicking on the links specific to them before 31 August.
