Concerns raised as record number of pupils in Scotland are identified with additional support needs

The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), an alliance of leading providers of specialist care and education to vulnerable children and young people, has raised concerns over an increase in the number of pupils identified with additional support needs (ASN), amounting to over a third of the pupil population.

Set against a backdrop of budgetary cuts and an ongoing lack of support, it has called for increased resourcing to address this growing need, which is also having an impact on surging levels of classroom disruption and violence.

The SCSC has also voiced concerns over a declining number of those with complex needs receiving a co-ordinated support plan (CSP), the only education plans that are legal documents. This is despite a Scottish Government promise that there would be no decline in the numbers of those receiving them.

The figures were released yesterday (12^th December) in the Scottish Government’s annual census of pupils and teachers in publicly funded schools.¹

These show that the number of pupils with ASN, such as autism, dyslexia and mental health problems in 2023 has reached a record high of 259,036. This represents 36.7% of the pupil population, rising from 131,593 in 2013. ² This represents almost a doubling (96.8%) in numbers over the past decade.

An increase in demand is however set against a background of spending cuts and a lack of specialist ASN teachers, support staff and the resources needed to support these children and young people.

This is exacerbated by the damaging ongoing impacts of Covid-19 lockdowns and the cost-of-living crisis, which have had a disruptive impact on many of those with ASN, who disproportionately come from the poorest backgrounds. There has also been an increase in those experiencing mental health problems.

The SCSC has also raised concerns over a decline in the number of those receiving a CSP. These are statutory education plans prepared by local authorities to identify and ensure the provision of services for children and young people with complex or multiple ASN.

The only education plans that are legally enforceable documents, CSPs require services such as education, health and social work to work together to give a child or young person the support they need. This provides some guarantees of entitlement to additional resources and legal redress, placing statutory duties on local authorities to review and ensure the provisions contained within it are being met.

Despite a Scottish Government promise that there would be no reduction in the proportion of pupils receiving them since their introduction in 2004, there has been a significant fall in the number of pupils with a CSP. Declining from 3,279 in 2013 ³ to 1,318 in 2023 ⁴, this amounts to a drop of 59.8%. and is a reduction from 2.5% to 0.5% of those with ASN.

The coalition has called for an expansion in access to CSPs, with the Scottish Government, local authorities, health and other relevant agencies collaborating more effectively to ensure that those requiring such a legal plan receive one.

This needs to be supported by the necessary resourcing, and increased awareness and understanding of CSPs by families or carers and professionals.

A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “While more children and young people are being identified as having ASN, this is against the increasingly challenging backdrop of a lack of specialist teachers, support staff and the resources needed to support them.

“This is having an impact in terms of surging levels of school violence we are witnessing. Increased support is critical, especially post the Covid-19 pandemic and the damaging impact this has had on many of our children and young people, exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis, all of which is hitting the poorest hardest.

“We are also concerned that despite an increase in the numbers of those with ASN we are experiencing a decline in the use of CSPs, which are legally enforceable and designed to support those with the most complex needs.

“The Scottish Government, local authorities, health and other agencies need to work in collaboration with the private and third sectors to provide the necessary resourcing and support to address the needs of children and young people with ASN. They must also work together to ensure that those who are entitled to a CSP receive one.

“With those with ASN drawn disproportionately from poorer neighbourhoods, if we are to genuinely close the educational attainment gap, they must get the care and support they need when they need it.”