Clash over additional support for Moray school kids
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How best to help children assessed as having additional support needs (ASN) in Moray's schools is provoking a clash of opinions.
An action plan was passed by the council's education committee on Wednesday – but only after the chairman cast the deciding vote following a 90-minute debate.
During the last academic year in Moray 4702 pupils – 38.8% compared to a national average of 32% – were assessed as having some sort of ASN.
The reasons would be due to health, family circumstances, emotional issues, general problems with learning, or a combination of these.
The action plan passed on Wednesday will now form the starting point of a review of the whole ASN service in Moray.
However, there remain widely different views regarding how much input parents and teachers are being given in the process.
Councillor Sonya Warren (Buckie, SNP) welcomed the vote as a "step forward".
Speaking after the debate, she said: "Our ASN service is seeing unprecedented demand with a very significant increase in children being assessed as needing additional support in recent years.
"That and other factors have driven the need for a major review of how the service is delivered and how it can be supported with increased resources.
"This is going to be a long term piece of work that will see regular scrutiny at the council’s education committee and will require councillors to prioritise funding to deliver the required outcomes.
"These further pieces of work will involve significant stakeholder consultation including staff and unions.
"There are some elements that can and should be addressed at speed to get better results on the ground.
"We will also be consulting with families to get better engagement and understanding.
"Strong assurances have been given that this stakeholder engagement will form a critical and integral part of ongoing work as we move to the next phase of developing the ASN service.
"This is about what we need to provide the best leaning opportunities for all our young people with learning support needs."
However, opposition councillors criticised the action plan as "vaguely worded" and "unfocused".
Cllr Frank Brown (Elgin North, Conservative) said: "What we are presented with today is the outline business case for a review which has no plan nor route.
"If I may pick a biblical analogy we have a latter-day Moses heading off into the wilderness with no destination."
Cllr Tim Eagle (Buckie, Conservative) labelled it a "missed opportunity".
Speaking afterwards, he said: "There are two key elements missing.
"Firstly, a lack of any real consultation with parents, young people, teachers and union representatives.
"Secondly, any real thrust of what the plan is.
"Officers have suggested a 'test of change model'.
"They want to adapt current policy and see if it works.
"Then, if it does, expand it across Moray.
"But the report contained little detail of what that really means on the ground.
"We have seen significant increases in violence and aggression towards staff in schools.
"This was a missed opportunity to really think about what the future of ASN should look like and how we might get it right for every child."
The approved action plan can be viewed in full by clicking HERE and scrolling down to page 90.
