Additional Support For Learning

Author: Ned Sharratt

PDF Published: Friday 26 Jun 2026 (SB 26-37)

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Overview
Report

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Overview
Report
- Summary
- Policy background and commentary on implementation
  - Legislative framework
  - Presumption of Mainstreaming
  - Numbers of pupils with additional support needs
  - Resources and funding
  - Policy development and critique
- Supporting constituents
  - Principles for working with families and young people
  - Plans
    
    Co-ordinated Support Plan
    
    Individualised Educational Programmes
    
    Child's Plan
  - Placing requests for pupils with additional support needs
  - Resolving disputes
Sources

This graph shows the increase in the percentage of pupils with at least one additional support need between 2011 and 2025

Image: Figure 1: Percentage of pupils with at least one additional support need (all public schools)

This chart shows the number of school pupils who have been recorded as having one of the categories of ASN, comparing the data from 2015 and 2025

Image: Figure 2: Categories of identified additional support need (all public schools)

This chart shows that the likelihood of a pupil being identified as having ASN is higher in the most deprived areas.

Image: Figure 3: Percentage of pupils with ASN, by SIMD Decile

This chart shows that the number of ASN teachers has remained broadly similar between 2015 and 2025

Image: Figure 4: Number of "ASN Teachers" (FTE)

This graph shows that, in real terms, local authority expenditure on Special education has increased from 2017-18 to 2025-26

Image: Figure 5: Local Authority Expenditure on Special Education (Indexed real terms, 2021-22=100)

Scottish Government. (2026). Pupil census supplementary statistics 2025. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/pupil-census-supplementary-statistics/

Scottish Parliament. (2026). Education, Children and Young People Committee, Meeting date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/ECYP-21-01-2026?meeting=20027&iob=201087#orscontributions_M5613E438P774C3005188

Scottish Parliament. (2024). SPICe Summary of Local authority Responses on Additional Support for Learning Inquiry. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/education-children-and-young-people-committee/correspondence/2024/spice-summary-of-local-authority-responses-on-additional-support-for-learning-inquiry.pdf

Scottish Parliament. (2024). SPICe Summary of Responses on Additional Support for Learning Inquiry. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/education-children-and-young-people-committee/correspondence/2024/spice-summary-of-responses-on-additional-support-for-learning-inquiry.pdf

Scottish Government. (2026). Teacher census supplementary statistics 2025. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/teacher-census-supplementary-statistics/

Scottish Government . (2025). Scottish Local Government Financial Statistics & Provisional Outturns and Budget Estimates 2025. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/collections/local-government-finance-statistics/

Marsh, A., & Fernie, L. (2025). Additional Support for Learning in Scotland – 2004 to 2024. Scottish Educational Review, (55).

Additional Support for Learning in Scotland – 2004 to 2024. (2025). Scottish Educational Review, 55. doi: https://brill.com/downloadpdf/view/journals/ser/55/1-2/article-p38_4.pdf

Last Updated: 26/6 5:03pm

Image: Figure 1: Percentage of pupils with at least one additional support need (all public schools)

Image: Figure 2: Categories of identified additional support need (all public schools)

Image: Figure 3: Percentage of pupils with ASN, by SIMD Decile

Image: Figure 4: Number of "ASN Teachers" (FTE)

Image: Figure 5: Local Authority Expenditure on Special Education (Indexed real terms, 2021-22=100)

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