Democrat reporter
Scottish Labour has accused the SNP of “abandoning” children with additional support needs in schools as the number of ASN teachers falls to the lowest point on record.
New figures have revealed that the number of ASN teachers in Scotland fell again in 2024, hitting their lowest point since current records began in 2010.
The number of ASN teachers in Scotland is now more than 19 per cent lower than it was in 2010, despite the number of ASN pupils rising more than fourfold in that time.
Audit Scotland recently issued a damning rebuke of the SNP’s record on Additional Support for Learning provision in schools, warning that “the Scottish Government has failed to plan effectively for its inclusive approach to additional support for learning”, while a Scottish Parliament committee warned that the situation was “intolerable”.
Scottish Labour Education spokesperson Pam Duncan-Glancy, above right, said “Children with additional support needs have been abandoned by the SNP, who have let teacher numbers collapse while need soars.
“This dysfunctional SNP government has ignored warning after warning on the issue, and Scottish pupils are paying the price for its failure.
“The SNP must apologise for this shameful betrayal and set out a real plan to ensure every young Scot has the right support in school.
“A Scottish Labour government will put an end to SNP failure and build an education system that backs the potential of every single child in Scotland.”
Table 6.7: Additional support needs teachers in all sectors, 2010-2024
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
|
Scotland |
3,524 |
3,385 |
3,390 |
3,290 |
3,077 |
3,038 |
2,990 |
2,838 |
2,865 |
2,838 |
2,862 |
2,887 |
2,844 |
2,898 |
2,837 |
Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/teacher-census-supplementary-statistics/
Classification and collation of these figures was changed in 2010 so previous figures from previous years are not comparable.
Table 1.5a: All sectors, pupils with Additional Support Needs and integration into mainstream classes
|
Year |
Total pupils |
|
2010 |
69,587 |
|
2024 |
284,448 |
|
Increase |
309% |
Source: table 1.5
Committee warns of “intolerable” situation for children and young people with additional support needs: https://www.parliament.scot/about/news/news-listing/committee-warns-of-intolerable-situation-for-children-and-young-people-with-additional-support-needs
Fundamental review needed of planning and resourcing of additional support for learning: https://audit.scot/news/fundamental-review-needed-of-planning-and-resourcing-of-additional-support-for-learning
Top of page: Teachers and pupils at Kilpatrick School, which takes special support needs pupils from West Dunbartonshire. Retired Lord Lieutenant Donald Harvie is on the left of the picture by Bill Heaney.