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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-17236

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2023
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).

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 .

Question reference: S6O-02205

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2023
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.

Question reference: S6W-17244

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2023
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".

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.

Question reference: S6W-17227

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to seek the views of the workforce, parents and carers, and children and young people within the Pupil Support Staff Working Group consultations, as committed to in the Additional Support for Learning Review Action Plan – Update November 2022.

In addition to the November 2022 update to the Additional Support for Learning Review Action Plan, Education Scotland have been leading on a national engagement programme for pupil support staff, which sought the views of the workforce, parents and carers.

The 4-month consultation element of the programme closed in early March 2023. Over 2,500 survey responses were received from staff in all 32 local authorities. Work is still ongoing to capture the views of parents and carers. Analysis and evaluation of the programme responses is in progress and the programme report is scheduled to be completed by July 2023.

Question reference: S6W-17232

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, following the publication of the Additional Support for Learning Review Action Plan – Update November 2022, how it plans to ensure that there will be career progression and pathways for teachers looking to specialise in Additional Support for Learning (ASL), and for what reason its intention is that this will result in an overall increase in the number of teachers specialising in ASL.

Career progression for teachers who want to further their careers in specialist roles in curricular, pedagogical and policy delivery are available through the role of Lead Teacher, which was introduced into the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers grading structure in August 2021.

Lead Teacher areas of specialism can include additional support needs and therefore there is the potential for an increase in the opportunities available to teachers wishing to specialise in this area.

The recruitment and deployment of teachers, including Lead Teachers, is a matter for individual local authorities, based on their local need and priorities.

Question reference: S6W-17230

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, following the publication of the Additional Support for Learning Review Action Plan – Update November 2022, whether teachers have been able to access support and expertise from other professionals when this is required, and, if so, whether there have been any reoccurring concerns expressed on behalf of teachers.

Teachers can access support and expertise to understand and meet the needs of all learners from colleagues nationally, regionally and locally. This may include Education Scotland staff, third sector organisations, Regional Improvement Collaborative teams and colleagues from their own local authorities. Within their local authority this may include; Pupil Support Staff, early learning colleagues, specialist teachers, hearing and sight impaired teachers, other class teachers, senior leadership teams, Community Learning and Development colleagues, inclusion officers and educational psychologists. When a child or young person is supported by partners out with education services, for example, social care, health or the third sector, their teachers can also liaise with these colleagues using the team around the child approach.

Re-occurring requests from teachers have been received. These are requests to further support their knowledge, understanding and practice on specific concerns relating to inclusion, additional support needs including areas on rights and equalities, relationships, wellbeing and care, inclusion, the additional support for learning process and specific areas of need for example autism, dyscalculia, dyslexia, trauma informed approaches. These requests are received in a range of ways for example:

National networks and working groups led and facilitated by Education Scotland or the Scottish Government.
National practitioner networks facilitated by Education Scotland.
Teachers engaging with national professional learning programmes.
Feedback from Regional Improvement Collaboratives and individual local authorities.

To ensure all educators can access free high-quality support Education Scotland is leading on the collaborative development of a new national Inclusion Wellbeing and Equality (IWE) professional learning framework. This framework uses four interconnecting themes and aims to provide a range of information, guidance, resources and professional learning and engagement opportunities to support the needs of educators and their learners. The four interconnecting themes are:

1. Rights and Equalities.

2. Relationships.

3. Wellbeing and Care.

4. Inclusion.

Question reference: S6W-17228

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
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, whether it is on track to share the evaluation of the engagement programme, and, if so, what (a) visions and (b) values have been agreed upon.

Education Scotland are leading on a national engagement programme for Pupil Support Staff, which sought the views of Pupil Support Staff, senior leaders, children and young people and parents and carers.

The 4 month consultation element of the programme was extended and closed in March 2023. Over 2,500 surveys were completed representing all 32 local authorities. Analysis and evaluation of all the programme responses is in progress as is the programme report and should be completed by July 2023.

The programme has provided the first national opportunity for Pupil Support Staff to share their views on a range of areas including whether they feel it would be beneficial to have their own workforce vison and set of values. They were also asked to collaborate on the development of any potential workforce vision and values using draft versions provided. A wide range of suggestions and comments were received and this feedback is currently being collated within the programme evaluation report.

Question reference: S6W-17229

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
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, whether its final proposals for an accredited qualification and registration programme for Additional Support Needs assistants are on track to be brought forward by autumn 2023.

Yes. A working group, including representatives from local authorities, COSLA, the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland, Education Scotland and Scottish Government officials, has been formed to explore options for the development of an accredited qualification and registration programme for Additional Support Needs assistants. The working group is scheduled to bring forward final proposals by autumn 2023.

Question reference: S6W-17226

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will revisit its research on the implementation factors associated with effective workforce development and deployment within the pupil support staff workforce in spring 2023, as stated in the Additional Support for Learning Review Action Plan – Update November 2022.

Question reference: S6W-17231

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
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".

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.