MSPs will be urged this week to back calls for a fundamental review of how additional support for learning is delivered in Scotland’s schools.
In a Scottish Conservative-led debate on Wednesday, shadow education secretary Miles Briggs will highlight a “damning” Audit Scotland report into the SNP’s “shocking” failure to produce the planning and resources to tackle the issue.
That is despite the report revealing that around 40 per cent of Scottish pupils are now receiving additional support for learning.
Miles Briggs has accused SNP ministers of “being asleep at the wheel” while teachers and staff have come under unacceptable pressure and that some of the most vulnerable students have been repeatedly let down.
He will demand immediate action to assess the SNP’s current presumption that mainstream education offers the best opportunities for ASN pupils, and for greater resources to support students and staff.
Miles Briggs added that the SNP had stood by while young people were removed from diagnostic pathways and that a national programme of training to support improved outcomes for all children was urgently needed.
Scottish Conservative shadow cabinet secretary for education and skills Miles Briggs said: “Audit Scotland’s report earlier this year on additional learning support was damning.
“It is clear there needs to be a fundamental review into how this support is being delivered in Scotland’s schools and that is exactly what our debate this week will urge all MSPs to back.
“Despite around 40 per cent of Scotland’s pupils now requiring ASL support, Audit Scotland highlighted the SNP’s shocking failure to plan and resource accordingly to tackle this issue.
“Ministers have been asleep at the wheel while teachers and staff have faced unacceptable pressure and some of our most vulnerable pupils have been let down.
“We need to see immediate action to understand if the SNP’s presumption of mainstream education is what is best for ASN pupils and for resources to be put into a national programme of training in our classrooms.
“The SNP have stood by while children have been removed from diagnostic pathways and getting the support which they were desperately crying out for.
“Ministers who have presided over a general decline in Scottish education cannot continue to ignore these warnings and must now back our calls for a different approach.”