BUDGET cuts have slashed the level of support available to children with additional support needs (ASN) in mainstream schools, MSP Jackie Baillie has argued.

Speaking in a Scottish Parliament debate, the Dumbarton MSP said that one in seven ASN teaching posts has been cut since 2010- despite an increase in the number of children with additional support needs.

Ms Baillie, who is convener of the Scottish Parliament’s cross-party group on learning disability, welcomed the publication of new national guidance on the presumption of main-streaming in education.

However, she urged that the SNP Government deal with the root cause of the problem- by reversing budget cuts and investing in schools.

She also highlighted the views expressed by local parents and teachers in response to learning disability charity ENABLE’s national conversation about the reality of educational experiences for young people in Scotland.

Their report ‘#IncludED in the Main?!’ made a series of recommendations to the Scottish Government to improve the experience of children with ASN in schools.

Parents from West Dunbartonshire said that there are not enough staff available to meet their children’s needs and called for pupils with ASN to be treated as individuals.

And teacher from Argyll and Bute said that specialist ASN training had to be arranged privately and the local authority did not offer enough support to staff.

Ms Baillie said: “Once again the SNP’s record on education is exposed as simply not good enough.

“The fact is that one in every seven ASN teaching posts has been cut since 2010 under the SNP.

“All the evidence shows a lack of resources and funding for schools is having a negative impact on the education of children with ASN.

“The teachers do a great job, but they need resources and support.

“John Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon need to recognise the common theme of their record on education – cuts are harming the chances of our young people.

“It is now clear that the real reform our schools need is more funding.

“The tax plans proposed by the SNP simply do not close the budget gap. Only Labour is offering a plan to stop the cuts and invest in education instead.”

But a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We want all children and young people to get the support that they need to reach their full learning potential.

“This year alone we have invested £88 million so every school can access the right number of teachers.

“In 2017-18 we have provided £120 million of Pupil Equity funding, to be spent at the discretion of headteachers on additional staffing and resources to help close the poverty related attainment gap.

“All teachers provide support to pupils with additional support needs – not just ‘support for learning’ teachers.

“Since 2015, we have recorded a further 2.7 per cent increase in the number of support staff employed in schools and centrally employed staff assisting additional support for learning.”