Question reference: S3W-04451
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 18 September 2007
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Current status: Answered by Adam Ingram on 2 October 2007
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make available the £10 million Additional Support Fund (ASF) to improve services for children with additional support needs, as promised in the SNP manifesto; whether this funding will be in addition to that already spent on additional support needs provision; whether the ASF initiative will include additional specially trained staff, and when the review of mainstreaming of children with additional support needs will commence.
Answer
The outcomes tobe secured through the Additional Support Fund are expected to be the subjectof forthcoming discussions with COSLA.
It is the responsibility of each education authorityto identify local training needs to ensure they have a range of suitablyqualified staff in place to fully support all pupils. The Requirements forTeachers (Scotland) Regulations 2005 require educationauthorities to employ adequate numbers of teachers with the appropriateprofessional skills and knowledge for the teaching duties allocated to them.
With regard to the review of mainstreaming, the Scottish Executive commissioned the Scottish Centre for Research in Educationto evaluate the impact of the legislation. Their report, which was published in2006, found no evidence that mainstreaming has a negative effect on pupilattainment and that, with proper preparation and support, inclusion is beneficialfor all.
We are committedto ensuring that all children receive the support they need in our schools andwe will take what steps are necessary to ensure we achieve this. These stepsinclude consideration, at some future date, of a review into the operation andimplementation of mainstreaming policy.