Petition · PE01507 · Session 4
Funding for Additional Support for Learning in Scotland
Signatures
0
Comments
116
Considered
2 meetings
What it asks
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to ensure that local authorities fulfil their statutory duties with regard to the delivery of Additional Support for Learning.
We are calling upon the Public Petitions Committee to write to the Scottish Government requesting it write to all of Scotland’s local authorities reminding them of their statutory requirement under Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) approach, and also the Education (Additional Support for Learning) Scotland Act 2009, urging them to protect vital children’s services when setting their future budgets.
We are calling upon the Public Petitions Committee to write to the Scottish Government requesting it write to all of Scotland’s local authorities reminding them of their statutory requirement under Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) approach, and also the Education (Additional Support for Learning) Scotland Act 2009, urging them to protect vital children’s services when setting their future budgets.
What the petitioner did first
Prior to submitting our petition, the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), along with charity Kindred, has launched a Scotland-wide campaign regarding the threat of potential cuts to children’s services highlighting our concerns to all 32 local authorities in Scotland, as well as using national and local media to urge individuals and organisations to contact their local council, councillors and MSP in order to bring both our campaign and the potential implications of such cuts to their attention.
The campaign has so far consisted of:
• A letter to all council leaders and chief executives as well as members of COSLA
• Coverage in national and local press on the back of two news releases, comment articles and letters to editors
• Social media activity via Twitter and Facebook sites
To date we have received responses from only 13 of the 32 local authorities, half of which are acknowledgement letters. Only seven authorities even attempt to allay our fears by explaining how they are combatting these cuts in their budget setting. Most of those who did not respond to us have already acknowledged the savings that they need to make, with many proposing to cut frontline services like the provision of Additional Support for Learning (ASL) teachers in order to make savings.
The campaign has so far consisted of:
• A letter to all council leaders and chief executives as well as members of COSLA
• Coverage in national and local press on the back of two news releases, comment articles and letters to editors
• Social media activity via Twitter and Facebook sites
To date we have received responses from only 13 of the 32 local authorities, half of which are acknowledgement letters. Only seven authorities even attempt to allay our fears by explaining how they are combatting these cuts in their budget setting. Most of those who did not respond to us have already acknowledged the savings that they need to make, with many proposing to cut frontline services like the provision of Additional Support for Learning (ASL) teachers in order to make savings.
Where it was considered
Official Report-
4 Mar 20141 mention
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6 May 20141 mention
Signatures by country
872 online signaturesComments
116 comments, oldest first116 comments · showing 1–50
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Sophie Dow 28 Jan 2014Wholeheartedly
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Rachel mackay 28 Jan 2014This scandalous no more cuts
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alan mcfarlane 28 Jan 2014all children need educated, not just the clever ones .
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tanya 28 Jan 2014Our children deserve the right to a proper well supported education just the same as any other child alot of children are not getting the educational suppoert that they need through the main stream schools that the attend this needs to change and the children should be educated to be the best they can be
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Elizabeth Cannon 28 Jan 2014As a patent with a child with ASD ADHD & ODD this is terrible, LA's are struggling enough without the loss of funds which are desperately needed.
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Laura james 28 Jan 2014The cut backs in my son's speci needs school are a disgrace
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Lorraine Dearie 28 Jan 2014My autistic child is in a mainstream secondary with a autism unit, it has ran for about 16yrs and was held as excellent and it should be expanded around scotland
- that was when it started with 1 expert autism teacher to 4 pupils, it is now 1 to 10 and all I get told is how they dont have enough time or enough staff to do things they used to do which helped our children with their difficulties
- it isn't fit for purpose anymore and could be so excellent as it once was with proper resourcing
- and yet all I hear is more cuts more cuts, it has to end
- it can make such a difference to the outcome for our children when they have the proper support
- it does make a difference! The cuts in ratio weren't made to save money they were increased because demand increased it has a very determinetal effect to all the pupils and demand is still increasing, funding must increase too! -
Raymond Coyle 28 Jan 2014Shameful
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Glynis Morris 28 Jan 2014more services needed not less
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karen Gracie 28 Jan 2014Additional support is much needed and my son Couldn't go to nursery without
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Teresa Catto-Smith 28 Jan 2014With rolls being capped and specialist provision harder to access more than ever, the funding for ASL provision has to be protected. The 'presumption of mainstream' practised across the country is damaging children who are already vulnerable and puts pressure on schools already stretched to the limit.
These cuts affect vulnerable children disproportionately but people also need to remember that the impact of a child with additional neess not being supported appropriately is felt by the rest of their class too. Sweeping cuts to Children & Families budgets are coming and this will impact on all families.
Immoral and shameful
- kept quiet too, but it wont help with the 'Yes' campaign for people to know what cuts are coming. Sneaky. -
Joe Thompson 28 Jan 2014You have my support :-)
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Nicola Munro 28 Jan 2014My middle son has Asperger Syndrome and receives little support in Mainstream school. We have been fighting for years for additional help to little avail. Schools have a duty o care to all children to provide an education
- sadly this is not always upheld especially with children who have ASN. More funding is needed desperately. We have now had to make a request for our child to be placed in an ASD unit as Mainstream cannot cope due to lack of adequately trained staff. Obviously this is due to lack of funding. This is an awful situation in today's society. -
Eleanor Ferguson 28 Jan 2014It is very important that children get the right support at school to give them the best chance of maximising their potential
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d dickson 28 Jan 2014teachers in mainstream schools dnt have the expertise or time to deal with kids who have additional needs ....its a no brainer !
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Mairead Murray 28 Jan 2014Create fairness for families without them having to fight for basic rights
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John Hutton 28 Jan 2014Proper support at school is so important to the development and education of our kids. Cuts cuts and more cuts. Enough is enough, let's make a voice to be heard, loud and clear, don't cut the support in school our kids desperately need.
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Alexandra Duff 28 Jan 2014There should be more services available
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Bev Mcguckin 28 Jan 2014GIRFEC has a long, long way to go before it's coming close to meeting the needs of our children. The theory of it on paper is good but the practise is a daily battle!! People are willing but cost cuts at every turn !! Frustration
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Andrea Gavin 28 Jan 2014Every child has the right to access the correct education.
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Jennifer Allan 28 Jan 2014My son attends a specialist nursery with additional support and he has came on so much, he absolutely would not cope in mainstream nursery.
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Kirsty Lawson 28 Jan 2014With provision for special and or additional needs children already too small I cannot see how this will work. If those who decide where the funding went had children who require specialist help they would soon fight for the budget to be increased instead of reducing it yet again when services are already too low.
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Anne McMath 28 Jan 2014Every child deserves the additional support they need to help them achieve their goals no matter what the cost.
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Kristy jones 28 Jan 2014Addional support is needed a lot of children wouldnt be able to attend nursery without it including my son.
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sandra rees 28 Jan 2014My child needs more support in class to meet his full potential
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Calum Auld 28 Jan 2014Much needed assistance for our schools...
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Fiona Auld 28 Jan 2014Ridiculous!
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Janice Mills 28 Jan 2014Children need adults to stand up for them in this kind of issue
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Lisa Hunter 28 Jan 2014Services during childhood are essential and if good children's services in place reduced costs may result for individuals in later life as they achieve greater skills, coping and confidence.
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Suzanne clark 28 Jan 2014Yet again the most vulnerable are being targeted. They are still children and they should be given the same opportunities as the rest but they are not. They are treated like second class citizens. If teaching staff was being cut back in mainstream school there would be an out cry but not the same outcry for kids with disabilites
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Mark Stewart 28 Jan 2014Please support this cause.
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Denise McMillan 28 Jan 2014The cuts for children and young people with ASN is beyond ridiculous! It has a major impact on these children, their classmates who do not require additional support as teachers are so stretched, and families. You MUST invest in our children's future and allow them to reach their full potential!!
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Tracy Metcalf 28 Jan 2014We have already had strike days from psa staff in mainstream shools as a result of the pressure put on them as a result of this. It's concerning when the staff are publicly saying its too much!
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Laura Stanton 28 Jan 2014Additional learning support needs more funding not less! This is especially required now to the increasing numbers of children who need support in school due to complex medical conditions & the real needs of the children. No help then no positive future for them or the country.
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Marie Farrell 28 Jan 2014This funding is vital to the development and education of all additional needs students covering all ages. This funding is a necessary ingredient in supporting these needs.
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Lesley Morrice 28 Jan 2014Please do the right thing by our children and the right thing for the future of Scotland.
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Deborah best 28 Jan 2014My son has just been failed by our local authority
Who have admitted to disability discrimination -
Alison Leighton 28 Jan 2014Vitally important that young people with ASN get the extra support and help they need to enable them to cope in education. Teachers have a tough enough time with inclusive classes and base provision now disappearing and ASN classroom assistants being cut to stretching point!
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Euan R Brown 29 Jan 2014The proposed cuts will have a severe impact on the very parts of services designed to help integrate services between special schools and mainstream. Specifically, reducing budget for 1-2 days per week placement in mainstream will have the result of increased isolation of special needs pupils.
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Sandie Melvin 29 Jan 2014My son needs more help. Plenty money goes to helping people with selfinflicting health issues my son was born with autism. Not fair in anyone's eyes
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Margaret Goodwin 29 Jan 2014Need more services not less all children should have the support which they need and deserve
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Aileen Bulloch 29 Jan 2014More help needed not less
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debbie kemp 29 Jan 2014Such a demand in mainstream schools
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Angela Greenlaw 29 Jan 2014as all child are needing the additional support for learning and additional support needs for special needs learning too xx
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charlene brown 29 Jan 2014my daughter needs the extra help but doesnt seem to b getting what she needs!!
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Isobel mitchell 29 Jan 2014Support for Additional Support Needs must be adequately funded to enable children, families & staff & to implement legislation & guidelines.
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Tracey Blackie 29 Jan 2014Our kids need help and respect like all kids do
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Brenda candlish 29 Jan 2014Money should never b a factor when it comes to any childs education and additional support needs. Supposed to be the Curriculum For Excellance.
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Pamela McNamee 29 Jan 2014Children's services are vital, much more support is required, not a reduction!
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Gina Witty 29 Jan 2014There is not enough help as it is. Cutting services is not an option. As it is I have had to pay for extra tuition for my son with dyslexia as he was not getting the help he needed in the school system.