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xScottish Government urged to improve on additional support for learning
Date: 18th March 2025
Category:
Inclusive education
This joint briefing with the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission explains how the Scottish Government and councils are addressing the demand for additional support for learning (ASL).
According to the report, forty per cent of all pupils in Scotland receive ASL, with rates in the most deprived areas nearly double those in the least deprived areas. Since the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 (‘ASL Act’) was introduced in 2004, the number of pupils recorded as needing support has increased almost eightfold. This rise is due to several factors, including a more inclusive approach to ASL, changes in data recording, and greater awareness of additional needs. Despite this, there is no clear picture of the full scale and complexity of ASL needs across Scotland. Inconsistent data recording makes it difficult to assess how much is spent on ASL in schools, as most support is provided in mainstream classrooms. It is also unclear how much funding goes towards ASL-related services from other public bodies, such as the NHS.
Key findings and recommendations from the report states that ASL is now a core part of teaching, but funding and planning have not kept pace. The Scottish Government has yet to fully integrate ASL into education funding, teacher training, class sizes, and school design. To better support pupils, more consistent data collection is needed, allowing the government and councils to gain a clearer understanding of pupil needs and the resources required. The report also recommends that a national framework should be introduced within the next two years to measure ASL pupil outcomes more effectively. In the long term, as the number of pupils requiring ASL continues to grow, the report finds that Scottish Government and councils must rethink how education is funded, staffed, and assessed to ensure all pupils receive the support they need.