We need to ensure that every child gets the right support at school

The sign of a strong educational system is every pupil getting the right support where their individual needs are met. Last week Holyrood’ Education committee, which I sit on, found that this isn’t the case in Scotland for children with Additional Support Needs (ASN).

Support that was available to pupils with ASN has been cut, teachers are not receiving adequate training and we heard of one staff member directed to watch ‘The Big Bang Theory’ to learn about Asperger’s Syndrome.

Two and a half times as many pupils have an identified additional support need now than in 2010, that’s one in four.

This is largely down to a broader definition of ASN, including mental health issues, English as a second language and family bereavement.

At the same time, one in seven ASN teachers and one in ten ASN support staff has gone since 2010.

The Scottish Greens have estimated that it will cost over £32 million just to return staffing levels back to their 2010 levels before we even begin to address the recently identified increase in demand.

The Scottish Greens want to see all pupils receive the right support and I doubt we’re the only ones. Schools need more investment and teachers need better training and support.

When the government initially planned huge cuts to councils, who control education budgets, the Greens negotiated an extra £160 million funding for councils in exchange for our support.

This was the biggest budget concession in Holyrood’s history.

These funds will help offset the austerity that local councils have experienced over the last six years and prevent some planned devastating cuts to ASN provision.

It is not just about the money going into education though. As one in four pupils now have an identified additional support need, we need to make sure that all teachers have adequate training on how to support them. Right now, we hear too many stories from teachers who are overworked and unable to access additional training, even where it does exist.

The SNP has asked to be judged by their record on education.

The Greens are happy to help them improve the situation, using Holyrood’s powers to ensure better staff training, workload reduction and more resources in every school. The choice is up to them.