Image source, bbc

Sharon Veelenturf says there are many people struggling to get an assessment, particularly those on the autistic spectrum. 

Ms Veelenturf says there are barriers to getting a proper assesssment. 

Carol Gilmour, parent and foster carer, says there was resistance from both local authorities who had responsibility for her foster sons and she too had to get help from Kindred.

"Even as a confident parent I was up against it."

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson says ASN captures a huge spectrum and asks if there are patterns for any particular condition.

He asks if some schools are better at picking up on particular concerns.

Professor Sheila Riddell from University of Edinburgh says dyslexia is more likely to be identified in areas of less deprivation and that there are advantages of a diagnosis for sufferers because universities accept lower grades.

Prof Ridell says "we should be suspicious of such patterns."

Parent and foster carer Carol Gilmour says she is quite a confident parent and was able to ask for ASN for both her foster sons.

Ms Gilmour says their ASN provision should have been automatic and some parents are 

She says some local authorities are reluctant to put Coordinated Support Plans (CSPs) into place. 

Image source, bbc

Parent Sharon Veelenturf wee boy ASN says both her son and the child she looks after have CSPs.

Ms Veelenturf says she had to go to a tribunal and that this was a "waste of time and money".

"I was lucky to have  Kindred, external  behind me."

Professor Sheila Riddell from University of Edinburgh says local authorities have tried to discourage the use of Coordinated Support Plans (CSPs). 

Prof Riddell says the system should be supporting parents but is not doing that at the moment according to statistics.

Image source, bbc

Professor Sheila Riddell from the University of Edinburgh says there has been an expansion of demand for ASN.

Prof. Riddell says there is local authority variation in ASN.

Sally Cavers from Enquire says there was some discussion around exclusion from school and some who attended expressed concern over formal and informal exclusion and record keeping in regard to this.

Ms Cavers says inclusion of ASN children was also raised as a concern.

She says the recommendations and change levers that were discussed centred around:

• Users being heard
• training
• leadership and strength to take forward plans

Image source, bbc

Committee convener James Dornan asks Sally Cavers from Enquire to tell the committee about yesterday's session focusing on ASN, hosted by the children's commissioner. 

Sally Cavers from Enquire says there was agreement the legislation is good, but there are concerns about the complexity.

Ms Cavers says things are getting increasingly complex for practitioners and there is a feeling that the system is under pressure.

She says there are issues around consistency and accountability.

Ms Cavers says there was discussion around resources 

The Education Committee will now take evidence on additional support needs from:

• Sally Cavers from Enquire
• Colin Crawford, Head of Inclusion, Education Services, Glasgow City Council
• Carol Gilmour, parent and foster carer
• Kenny Graham from the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition
• Sylvia Haughney from Glasgow City Council
• Professor Sheila Riddell, director of the Centre for Education Inclusion and Diversity, University of Edinburgh 
• Samreen Shah,principal teacher, pupil support, Bannerman High School and member of EIS
• Sharon Veelenturf, parent

The SPICe briefing states that a person has ‘additional support needs’ if for whatever reason, they are unlikely to be able to benefit from school education without additional support.   

This includes very able children and those who may need temporary additional support due to family circumstances such as such as bereavement. 

The briefing includes a chart showing the wide range of additional support needs:

Image source, SPICe

The ability to teach children with additional support needs (ASN) in mainstream Scottish schools is under threat, the country's largest teaching union claimed in December.

The EIS union said cuts to the number of ASN teachers meant pupils' needs were not being met as well as they should be.

And it said ASN teachers were reporting a lack of equipment and resources.

Image source, Thinkstock

The employment of support staff is the responsibility of local councils.

A  wide range of factors, external  can lead to children having a need for additional support, including learning difficulties, family circumstances, disability or health needs, and social and emotional factors.

The  most recent figures, external  showed there are currently 170,329 pupils with additional support needs in Scottish schools, of whom 162,034 were in mainstream schools.

Jamie McIvor
BBC Scotland education correspondent

For children who require additional help and support at school, education can sometimes be a challenge .

For many years, the presumption has been to keep children in mainstream schools whenever possible.

The number of children classed as having additional support needs (ASN) has gone up dramatically in recent years while the number of specialist support teachers has dropped.

The term additional support needs covers anything from a physical disability or dyslexia - to a child who needs some extra support after a family bereavement.

A new £1.7m school for pupils with profound and complex needs has opened in the Scottish Borders.

Leader Valley School in Earlston replaces previous provision at primaries in Hawick and Innerleithen.

Councillor Sandy Aitchison said it was an "extremely auspicious day" for everyone involved in the project.

Image source, SCOTTISH BORDERS COUNCIL

He said the facility would be a "wonderful resource" not only for staff and pupils but also for parents and the wider community.

"Getting to this point has been quite a journey but this school is the result of our desire to provide the best we can for these children and parents and is certainly a project that I am particularly proud to have been part of," he said.

"I wish everyone well in the days and weeks to come as they settle in to their new premises and make it their own."

An open afternoon for the community is being held at the school on 28 February from 15:30 to 17:30.

The Education Committee will take evidence on additional support needs from:

• Sally Cavers, manager, Enquire
• Colin Crawford, head of inclusion, education services, Glasgow City Council
• Carol Gilmour, parent and foster carer
• Kenny Graham, member, Scottish Children’s Services Coalition

Image source, Thinkstock

• Sylvia Haughney, support for learning instructor, Glasgow City Council and member of UNISON
• Professor Sheila Riddell, director of the Centre for Education Inclusion and Diversity, University of Edinburgh
• Samreen Shah, principal teacher, pupil support, Bannerman High School and member of the EIS
• Sharon Veelenturf, parent

First up this morning we will bring you full and extensive coverage of the Education Committee as it takes evidence on additional support needs.

In the chamber this afternoon, we begin with portfolio questions as MSPs quiz culture, tourism and external affairs ministers, followed by justice and law officers ministers.

The Scottish Conservatives will then lead two afternoon debates, the first is on the abolition of the Scottish Funding Council board. 

This will be followed by a debate on the new BBC Scotland digital channel. 

After decision time, Tory MSP Alexander Stewart will lead a debate on the Safe Drive, Stay Alive Project.