Getting it Right for Every Child (Additional Support Needs Monitoring)

– in the Scottish Parliament at on 25 June 2014.

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Photo of Kevin Stewart Kevin Stewart Scottish National Party

11. To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the application in schools of getting it right for every child for children who require additional support. (S4O-03411)

Photo of Aileen Campbell Aileen Campbell Scottish National Party

Education Scotland monitors the application of GIRFEC through its inspection programme. The current inspection framework “How Good is our School 3?” includes a focus on the wellbeing indicators in quality indicator 2.1, on learners’ experiences, as well as consideration of the implementation of GIRFEC approaches through QI 5.3, on meeting learning needs. Education Scotland is also supporting schools to develop a shared understanding of GIRFEC and to introduce the self-evaluation tool that has been developed in partnership with the Scottish Government.

The implementation of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act is monitored through the routine inspection of schools. Furthermore, Scottish ministers report each year to the Scottish Parliament on the act’s implementation, and that report contains annual statistics and practice information relating to additional support for learning.

Photo of Kevin Stewart Kevin Stewart Scottish National Party

Parents of children with additional support needs have raised with me concerns that Aberdeen City Council, which has no autism strategy, is not getting it right for their children. Do the inspection bodies inspect the education of children with such needs, and are specific audits undertaken on whether authorities are applying the GIRFEC principles to those children?

Photo of Aileen Campbell Aileen Campbell Scottish National Party

In its inspections, Education Scotland places a priority on how well schools and services meet the needs of children with additional support needs and considers how GIRFEC approaches are being implemented. Her Majesty’s inspectors take account of that provision in their evaluation of quality indicators, all of which have specific themes that are linked to additional support needs and those who are at risk of missing out. In every inspection, we are informed about the number of young people with additional support needs and the nature of those needs. Education Scotland also inspects special schools and units in which all children and young people have additional support needs, including complex needs.

Moreover, Education Scotland has resources available through our learning trails, which are professional development packs that are used to meet the needs of specific groups of children, including those with autism. I am, of course, happy to meet and liaise with the member, if required, to help his constituents. The E in GIRFEC stands for “every”, and we must ensure that every child in Scotland gets the support that they need.