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PE2223: Allow parents of children with additional support needs to use their local authority education funding to access alternative education, including private schools, forest schools and other alternative provision

Petition Summary

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to allow parents of children with ASN to allocate their child’s local authority education allowance to offset the cost of alternative education through private schools, forest schools and alternative provision. 

This model is already in use in many Scandinavian countries. This change would give parents more choice and the option to top up the rest if required. 

Petitioner: Karmen Boyd

Status: Closed

Date published: 02 July 2026

Click here to read the full petition


Public Petitions Committee consideration

SPICe Briefing (146KB, pdf) posted 20 August 2026


Committee Meetings

24 September 2026: The Committee agreed to close the petition under rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that the Scottish Government does not currently support the introduction of a system that would automatically transfer local authority education funding directly to parents for alternative educational provision.

Meeting of the Public Petitions Committee, 24 September 2026


Written submissions

PE2223/A: Scottish Government written submission, 13 August 2026 (110KB, pdf) posted 20 August 2026

PE2223/B: Petitioner written submission, 14 September 2026 (94KB, pdf) posted 15 September 2026