How well has extra support for learning been working in schools across Scotland?

The Scottish Government want to make sure every child in Scotland gets the support they need in school. That’s why they asked an expert called Angela Morgan to review how additional support for learning is working in school. Lots of people including pupils shared their thoughts and experiences. Here’s what children and young people told the Review what was important to them:

Pupils’s views: 3 keys to better support at school:

1. Listening: Children and young people told the review that they want to be included in their school communities. They feel that when pupils with additional support needs are listened to, this means that better decisions are made to support them and the support is more likely to make a difference to their lives.
2. Understanding: Pupils with additional support needs also said it is important that adults working in schools understand and are sensitive to their individual needs. Helping pupils to learn in the way that suits them best is important. They also don’t want adults to assume they can’t do things or for their learning support need to define them.
3. Good relationships: Children and young people said they would feel happier at school if other pupils were kind and understanding. They feel that bullying should be sorted out as quickly as possible. They also think that good relationships between pupils and school staff are really important for successful learning.

You can find out more about what young people told the ASL Review here.

There is also an easy read, young people friendly version of the report to the Scottish Government on how well support for learning is working in Scotland.

Among the young people who shared their views are a group called the Inclusion Ambassadors. They want to make sure that the views of young people with additional support needs are heard in discussions about education policy.