Need for ‘fundamental re-think’ on additional support for learning

The Scottish Government has failed to plan effectively for an inclusive approach to education which has seen an eight-fold increase in pupils in need of additional support for learning, according to a new report.

Audit Scotland called on the government and local councils to “fundamentally re-think” how they plan, fund and staff additional support for learning (ASL) in schools.

According to the spending watchdog, since 2004 legislation to make ASL more inclusive, there has been a eight-fold increase in pupils receiving ASL – currently accounting for around 40 per cent of all school pupils. Almost all support is now delivered in mainstream classrooms, and it has become an increasingly central part of what teachers do, Audit Scotland said.

Auditor General Stephen Boyle said: “The Scottish Government has failed to plan effectively for its inclusive approach to additional support for learning. Current gaps in data mean it is unclear whether all children’s right to have an education that fully develops their personality, talents and abilities is being met.

“The Scottish Government and councils urgently need better quality data to understand pupils’ additional support needs and the resources required to provide support to enable all pupils to reach their full potential.”

The spending watchdog said “poor data” meant it is not possible to determine the scale, complexity and nature of needs across Scotland.

And it said existing measures show a “wide gap in outcomes” for pupils receiving additional support compared with other pupils, including being more likely to be absent or excluded from school.

Scottish Labour’s education spokesperson, Pam Duncan-Glancy, said: “This damning report shows the shameful scale of the SNP’s failure on education and the number of pupils being badly let down on their watch.

 “This report confirms what parents and teachers already know – parents are constantly fighting for their children’s education and teachers are being worked to the bone but they aren’t getting the support they need from the government.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Since the ASL (Scotland) Act was enacted in 2004 the number of pupils in schools with ASN has increased to 40 per cent, which does present challenges. That’s why the 2025-26 budget includes an additional £29m for additional support needs (ASN), building on the record investment of over £1bn spent by local authorities in the last year alone. 

“It is encouraging that school leaver destinations for pupils with ASN are at near-record levels, and we are seeing record achievement through Curriculum for Excellence.”