- 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: 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 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: 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 developments have been made to "align and clarify the relationship between statutory and non-statutory plans and to align those plans".
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 revise GIRFEC policy and practice guidance, including a single planning process for children and young people.
On 30 September 2022, 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.
The next phase of the GIRFEC refresh includes guidance on planning for children and young people. This is in the early stages of development and requires a collaborative and pragmatic approach between all stakeholders to ensure its success within a shifting legislative and policy landscape.
The statutory Supporting Children’s Learning Code of Practice already provides advice on the relationship between statutory and non-statutory plans. However, this matter will be considered further as part of our work to refresh the Supporting Children’s Learning Code of Practice which will take account of the refresh of the GIRFEC Policy and Practice Guidance.
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 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 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.
Answer
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.
- 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 the key issues and barriers were that were found to have impacted the implementation of coordinated support plans (CSPs), and what work has been carried out to address these since the publication of the Short-life Working Group on Co-ordinated Support Plans (CSPs): Final Report in 2021.
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 are committed to enhancing implementation of additional support for learning including co-ordinated support plans. This work will be considered as part of the review of the statutory guidance on additional support for learning, which is already underway.
Progress can be followed through the published minutes of the Project Board.
The final report by the Short Life Working Group on Co-ordinated Support Plans sets out the key issues and barriers to CSP implementation.
- 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: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
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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.
Answer
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.
