- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 9 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Additional Support for Learning Review Action Plan – Update November 2022, how (a) the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES) and (b) COSLA plan to improve the experiences of children and young people with additional support needs through local commissioning, and to what extent this has progressed since the publication of the Strategic Review of Learning Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Additional Support Need (the Doran Review).
Answer
The Scottish Government is working with local government partners on the Additional Support for Learning Project Board to deliver the recommendations of the 2020 additional support for learning review by March 2026. All local authorities are considering the actions of the ASL Review, and will continue to consider the incorporation of actions within local improvement plans.
As our joint Scottish Government and COSLA Additional Support for Learning action plan notes, local commissioning has developed considerably since the Doran Review was published in 2012. This reflects the increased flexibility within schools and local authorities to develop tailored interventions through local delivery of our £750 million investment in the last parliamentary term and £1 billion in this parliamentary term to close the poverty related attainment gap. Local delivery of the Strategic Equity Fund and Pupil Equity Fund and greater alliance with the Third Sector are key features of local commissioning.
Progress in closing the poverty related attainment gap was reported in our five year impact report , published in 2021 and future progress will be reported in line with our Evaluation Strategy for the Attainment Scotland Fund 2022 – 2026 and the National Improvement Framework measures .
In addition, the Scottish Government is working with partners in ADES, COSLA and Education Scotland, to develop a national measurement framework which aims to support improved outcomes for children and young people with additional support needs.
Improved experiences of children and young people with additional support needs will continue to be considered as part of the action plan and progress can be followed through the published minutes of the Project Board.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don on 5 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in revising its getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) policy and practice guidance, and when it anticipates that the revised GIRFEC policy and guidelines will be complete.
Answer
The Scottish Government published a series of refreshed GIRFEC policy and practice guidance to provide practitioners and professionals working with children, young people and their families with the confidence, clarity and practical support to continue to embed the GIRFEC approach.
We are now considering a single planning process for children and young people. A collaborative and pragmatic approach will be taken in the development of any new planning guidance and subsequent impact on statutory and non-statutory plans.
This work is currently on track and progress is set out in our second progress report for the Additional Support for Learning Review Action Plan published in November 2022.
A further progress update is due to be published in May 2024.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Additional Support for Learning Review Action Plan – Update November 2022, whether the Additional Support for Learning (ASL) Project Board's development of "a national measurement framework to capture the range of successes and achievements of children and young people with additional support needs" is on track to be completed by Spring 2023, and how this information will be presented in an accessible and meaningful way to ensure that any impact can be measured.
Answer
The Scottish Government are committed to working with COSLA, ADES and our partners on the Additional Support for Learning Project Board to deliver improvements in additional support for learning implementation and to ensure meaningful change for children and young people through our Additional Support for Learning Action Plan.
The Project Board considered progress on the National Measurement Framework at its meeting on 30 th January 2023. The Project Board agreed that further work was needed to ensure that the correct outcome measures are gathered and measured so that the Framework can be properly utilised and deliver clear evidence of change or improvement in the implementation of additional support for learning. Once this work has been completed it will be further tested with stakeholders prior to being adopted into practice. It is anticipated that this work will be completed during the course of the coming year.
The Scottish Government will continue to report on the progress of implementation of the ASL Action Plan, including development of the National Measurement Framework, through formal progress reports. The next progress report is due to be published in May 2024.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 4 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Additional Support for Learning Review Action Plan – Update November 2022, what progress it has made towards implementing the recommendations of the Strategic Review of Learning Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Additional Support Need (the Doran Review).
Answer
The Scottish Government is working with partners to implement the long-term recommendations of the 2012 Doran Review. Our 10 year strategy , published in 2019, outlines our agreed approach to improving the learning provision for children and young people with complex additional support needs.
While progress with the implementation of the 10 year strategy has been impacted by partners’ focus on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, work that will inform our next steps has continued. In particular, research is currently concluding on ways in which support for children and young people with complex additional support needs is currently being provided and will be published in due course. We are also continuing to work with partners to scope the potential of complex additional support needs’ content in existing teacher leadership programmes.
Progress can be followed through the published minutes of the Doran Review’s National Strategic Commissioning Group , in addition to the Additional Support for Learning Project Board ’s next scheduled update in May 2024 .
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 10 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out its proposed timetable for implementing the new musculoskeletal pathway, including how it will ensure that the views of third sector organisations are reflected in the process.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 10 May 2023
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Additional Support for Learning Review Action Plan – Update November 2022, how the findings from reports by children’s services, Regional Improvement Collaboratives, and Annual Education Plans have been utilised in order to measure and improve additional support needs planning and outcomes at the local authority level, given that "this action has been underway for some time".
Answer
The Scottish Government is working with local government partners on the Additional Support for Learning Project Board to deliver the recommendations of the 2020 additional support for learning review by March 2026. All local authorities are considering the actions of the ASL Review, and will continue to consider the incorporation of actions within local improvement plans.
In addition, the Scottish Government is working with partners in ADES, COSLA and Education Scotland, to develop a national measurement framework which aims to support improved outcomes for children and young people with additional support needs.
This work will continue to be considered as part of the action plan and progress can be followed through the published minutes of the Project Board.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Additional Support for Learning Review Action Plan – Update November 2022, when it expects that a national performance audit on outcomes for children and young people with additional support needs will be conducted.
Answer
The Scottish Government is working with local government partners on the Additional Support for Learning Project Board to deliver the recommendations of the 2020 additional support for learning review by March 2026. As outlined in our updated action plan , published in November 2022, we have committed to engaging with Audit Scotland on a national performance audit on outcomes for children and young people with additional support needs. This work will be undertaken by Audit Scotland, and is therefore for them to determine their timescales. I have asked officials to make Audit Scotland aware of your question.
Progress by the Additional Support for Learning Project Board can be followed through the published minutes . A further progress update is due to be published in May 2024.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Additional Support for Learning Review Action Plan – Update November 2022, for what reasons it, the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) and the Scottish Council of Deans of Education (SCDE) concluded that a qualification in additional support for learning "would not be attractive to those considering a career in teaching".
Answer
As set out in the November 2022 update to the Additional Support for Learning Review Action Plan, the Scottish Government discussed with GTCS and SCDE the viability of a first teaching qualification in additional support for learning being available at the initial teacher education stage.
The conclusion of these discussions was that this type of qualification may not be considered attractive to those considering a career in teaching and that student teachers need to experience the full spectrum of school teaching during initial teacher education and probation before being in a position to make an informed judgement on specialising in additional support for learning.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Additional Support for Learning Review Action Plan – Update November 2022, what communications have taken place with stakeholders, to date, to ensure that the independent review of qualifications and assessment "fully considers the needs of children and young people with additional support needs".
Answer
The Independent Review is continuing to seek views from stakeholders from across the education landscape on how a system of qualifications and assessment can uphold the rights of all learners, including those with additional support needs.
I am aware that Professor Hayward has met Angela Morgan, Chair of the Review of Additional Support for Learning Implementation, and has visited a range of schools where additional support needs have been specifically discussed. In addition, Professor Hayward has also spoken directly to young people with additional support needs.
The Review is scheduled to report to the Scottish Government by the end of May 2023.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Additional Support for Learning Review Action Plan – Update November 2022, what additional measures will be included at the next review of the National Performance Framework.
Answer
The Scottish Government are committed to working with COSLA, ADES and our partners to deliver improvements in additional support for learning implementation and to ensure meaningful change for children and young people through our Additional Support for Learning Action Plan. The most recent ASL Action Plan update published in November 2022 confirms the progress made on this commitment, including that any updates will be made as part of the next review of the national performance framework.
Ministers are required by statute to review the National Outcomes within five years of their previous publication. The next statutory review of the National Outcomes is underway. Public consultation began on 14 March 2023 and the review is expected to conclude during term 3 of Parliament (2023-24).
The action plan update confirms that this work will be informed by the development of the national measurement framework. Work continues on the development of this, as was confirmed in the answer to question S6W-15807 on 22 March 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .
The Scottish Government will continue to report on the progress of implementation of the ASL Action Plan through formal progress reports. The next progress report is due to be published in May 2024.
