BUT ALMOST ONE IN THREE PUPILS NOW HAS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT NEEDS
Primary school teacher numbers are at their highest level since 1980 and total teacher numbers have risen by 288, new statistics have shown. The overall number of teachers rose to 52,247, an increase of 1,530 since 2015 and the highest level since 2009.
However a campaign group has expressed concern over support for record numbers of pupils with Additional Support Needs.
Separate figures show the proportion of primary pupils assessed as achieving the expected levels in listening and talking, reading, writing, and numeracy has continued to improve.
Performance among S3 pupils has remained stable, with almost nine out of 10 achieving the expected levels in listening and talking, reading, writing and numeracy.
Speaking at St Peter’s primary school in Edinburgh, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “These latest statistics demonstrate that our reforms are working and education in Scotland is moving in the right direction.
“I am delighted to see teacher numbers continuing to increase, with levels at their highest in a decade and the number of primary teachers being the highest since 1980.
“Since 2006 there are now fewer P1-P3 pupils in large classes of 31 or more, which is particularly important as helping children in the early years is crucial if we are to close the attainment gap between the most and least deprived.
“I am pleased to see we are making progress on equity, with attainment among the most disadvantaged children and young people improving in both literacy and numeracy at all stages of primary education.
“We are consistently seeing steady, incremental gains in attainment across the broad general education. This is welcome progress but we know there is more to do and achieving equity and excellence is a long-term task.”
A spokesperson for campaigning organization, the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition, comments on the rise in the number of pupils identified with Additional Support Needs from figures released yesterday in the Scottish Government’s ‘Summary statistics for schools in Scotland’.
“The Scottish Government’s ‘Summary statistics for schools in Scotland’ show that the number of pupils with Additional Support Needs (ASN) has reached a new high of 30.9 per cent of the pupil population – from 118,034 in 2012 to 215,897 pupils – an increase in numbers of over 82 per cent. 1
“While it is promising that this increase tells us that more young people with ASN are being identified, it is against a worrying background of damaging cuts to services which has seen the number of specialist teachers supporting those with ASN decreasing from 3,840 to 3,437, a decline of 403, representing a new low. 2
“There has also been a fall in the number of specialist support staff in key categories such as behaviour support staff, where the number has dropped by 58 from 2012 (from 180 to 122) and by 43 in the number of educational psychologists (from 411 to 368).
“Figures reveal that per pupil spend on those with ASN has slumped from £4,276 in 2012/13 to £3,387 in 2017/18. 3 This amounts to a cut of £889 per pupil, representing a 26.1 per cent drop in real terms (20.8 per cent in cash terms).
“Ensuring adequate provision of education for young people with ASN is vital.
“While we are committed to the principle of inclusive education, and to the policy of educating young people with ASN in mainstream classes where this is the most appropriate environment for their learning, we have major concerns over a lack of resources and specialist staff to support these children and young people. This clearly has an impact not only on the individuals concerned but also on their peers and teachers.
“It is vital that those with ASN get the care and support they need, which is also key if we are to genuinely close the educational attainment gap. This is clearly challenging in an environment of austerity and evidence of cuts in spending per pupil with ASN.
“It is vital that we invest in education, addressing the needs of children and young people with ASN, such as those with dyslexia and autism, who will struggle to succeed without proper support.
“The cost to society in the long term if investment is not increased will far outweigh any potential savings made today and will hinder any efforts to close the educational attainment gap.”
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