Children and young people with additional support needs (ASN) are being denied the tailored support and range of educational options they deserve, the NASUWT, the fastest growing teachers’ union in Scotland, has told the Scottish National Party Conference. 

Speaking at the NASUWT fringe meeting ‘Inclusion, Ideology and Reality’ at the SNP Conference in Aberdeen, Jane Peckham, NASUWT National Official Scotland, highlighted concerns over the impact of the ‘presumption of mainstream’ policy which means that ASN children, except in certain circumstances, will be educated in mainstream schools rather than in special schools.

Also addressing the fringe was Angela Constance MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning.

Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:

“The ambition for all children to be educated in mainstream schools is one we support in principle, but the setting must be appropriate and the placement adequately resourced. Without this the needs of the child will not be met and their educational progress will suffer.

“Unfortunately NASUWT members report that ASN children and young people are being placed in schools which are either inappropriate for their needs or without adequate support.

“Teachers and schools will always strive to do their best for every child they teach, but it is unacceptable for them to be expected to meet the needs of pupils without the necessary resources.

“The entitlement of pupils with ASN to have all barriers to their educational progress removed must not be compromised.”

Jane Peckham, NASUWT National Official Scotland, said:

“It is important that ASN pupils have their needs properly assessed and the most appropriate placement identified.

“Supporting all ASN children and young people requires investment in tailored services and settings to ensure there is equality of both opportunity and choice for all children and young people.”

Angela Constance MSP, said:

“As a government we will continue to have dialogue and to work in partnership with local government to ensure we are supporting teachers and young people with additional support needs.

“Not everything can be covered in initial teacher training courses so in-service days, continuous professional development and the investment we are making in leadership in education are very important in this area because training is not only a benefit of being part of the teaching profession, it is a professional obligation and as a government we know we need to be alert to how we can continue to support the workforce and support the right of children to receive the education they are entitled to.”