Additional Support Needs (Training and Resources)

First Minister’s Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 7 November 2024.

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Photo of Roz McCall Roz McCall Conservative

My constituent Vicki Tocher’s son, Isaac, is a seven-year-old child who has a brain disorder and autism, which has left him with the developmental age of a one-year-old. At school, Isaac was segregated and became distressed. He was left alone for so long that he banged his head off a wall to the point of injury. Horrifyingly, that happened while he was being watched from behind a closed door by members of staff. The door was kept closed on him when he tried to come out, and staff failed to report to his parents what had happened. That is unacceptable. What will the Scottish Government do to ensure that all schools in Scotland have specific training and resources to make sure that what happened to Isaac never happens again?

Photo of John Swinney John Swinney Scottish National Party

I am very concerned at the details that Roz McCall has put to me. The whole question of support for young people with additional support needs in our schools is very clearly set out in guidance. There are no circumstances under which what Roz McCall has recounted should take place, given the guidance that is available to the school system.

I have extensive experience of such issues from my years as education secretary, during which I engaged with Beth Morrison and with one of my constituents who has done significant work in raising awareness about the issues that Roz McCall has put to me. I cannot conceive of a circumstance under which any of the detail that Roz McCall has put on the record would be justifiable under the guidance. I assure her that the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills is actively engaged on the question in relation to the formulation of further guidance, and we are engaging on some of the questions that arise in that respect in the bill that has been brought forward by Daniel Johnson.