Image source, bbc

Education Secretary John Swinney says in the recent Accounts Commission analysis in the changes of Scottish government funding and the changes of local government funding have largely been of the same magnitude.

Mr Swinney says in challenging budget environments local authorities have been treated fairly in terms of budget.

He says in the last financial year there was a 2.7% increase in local authority education expenditure.

The deputy first minister also points to the distribution of the attainment fund to 95% of schools.

Ms Lamont says there is no doubt that "there is phenomenal pressure in schools".

The Labour MSP asks what the solution is when experienced teachers are saying the job ha never been more difficult than it is now.

Mr Swinney says local authorities must make judgements as to whether the appropriate skills and resources are available to support the pupils at that school.

Ms Lamont asks if Mr Swinney would accept that local authorities are under financial pressure because of decisions taken by the Scottish government. 

To illustrate the importance of mainstreaming, Mr Swinney tells a story about visiting a school where many of the pupils were hard of hearing.

A boy stopped the deputy first minister and put a loop around his head, he says.

This was not for himself but to help a friend who was hard of hearing, which showed Mr Swinney the power of inclusive education. 

Labour MSP Johann Lamont says there are concerns that additional support staff remaining are stretched across more than one classroom.

Ms Lamont asks if the education secretary sees this as acceptable.

Mr Swinney says young people must be given the opportunity to fulfill there potential at every level.

The education secretary says "I believe fundamentally in mainstreaming" and that inclusive education is important. 

Image source, Thinkstock

Green MSP Ross Greer asks if teacher training courses offer enough time for ASN training.

Mr Swinney says yes, but he is happy to hear evidence to the contrary. 

Mr Greer says the evidence the committee has received does suggest that.

Greens MSP Ross Greer says one in seven additional support teachers have been cut and asks why the teacher recruitment drive does not address the additional support staff gaps.

Mr Swinney says it is about attracting people into teaching.

The education secretary says it is about equipping those teachers with the skills to support children with additional support needs.

Mr Greer says there are concerns that reducing the amount of training time for new teachers will limit the opportunity to gain the skills required to support additional needs pupils.

Mr Swinney says these proposals are looking at ways to get teachers into classrooms quickly.

The education secretary says he will not be the decision maker on how students pass the test but it is well known what the government expects in terms of training.

Image source, Thinkstock

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.

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

SNP MSP Gillian Martin says if teachers feel they are not getting the CPD (Continuing Professional Development ) what can be done.

The minister says it is important that teachers receive the appropriate CPD.

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.

Mr Swinney says there is recourse available to families where the system doesn't work and it may ultimately end up at tribunal.

"It is an extremely stressful journey for families," if they end up having to go all the way to tribunal, he says.

The education secretary says it is more about early interventions and the government are looking to place greater obligations on local government. 

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Richard Lochhead says he is tempted to say most parents he speaks to would rather see money spent on areas like ASN than nuclear weapons.

Tempted? He just said it.

Education Secretary John Swinney says parliament was mindful that it needed to address the needs of every single child.

Mr Swinney says the framework Holyrood put in place serves us well.

Mr Lochhead says he suspects the public purse was not ready for the impact of ASN.

Mr Thomson says the financial position in an independent Scotland would be a lot more challenging.

The Tory MSP ask what steps can be taken to make sure there is a more level playing field for parents and make sure "they are not always fighting against the machine."

Mr Swinney says members of parliament often take exception with him getting too involved in the role of local authorities. 

The education secretary says it would appear that is what Mr Thomson is asking him to do.

He says the government provides avenues for parents if they are not happy with the assistance that local government is providing for their child. 

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

Image source, bbc

Mr Thomson thanks the education secretary for his answer, particularly around the comment from Sylvia Haughey around the Big Bang Theory and Asperger's training.

The education secretary says he accepts there are pressures on local government funding but he says the fiscal environment of the UK makes things challenging.

Mr Swinney says figures for staff working to support ASN pupil in 2008 was 12,572 and in 2016 it was 12,883.

He says local authorities's spending on ASN increased by about £5m to £584m.