Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 14 May 2025
14 May 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Additional Support for Learning
As members will hear as I go through my speech—if I have an opportunity to get into it—and as the cabinet secretary will confirm, the Government is already taking forward a whole suite of work in this area. We are very keen to hear what more we can do and what would add value to the work that is already happening.
I begin by highlighting that the approach that is set out in the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 is highly inclusive. There continues to be consensus around the principles of inclusion on which our system is based, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Morgan report and, more recently, the Education, Children and Young People Committee of this Parliament have unanimously supported the inclusive approach that the 2004 act sets out.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-17524, in the name of Miles Briggs, on a review of additional support for learning and the implementation...
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to open this important debate on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. The report on additional support for learning that Audit Scotland publish...
The Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport (Maree Todd)
SNP
I thank Mr Briggs for lodging his motion, which calls for a review of additional support for learning and the implementation of mainstreaming. I confirm that...
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Does Maree Todd agree with the call from Miles Briggs that today’s debate must be a “wake-up call” for a fundamental change in how we move forward in this area?
Maree Todd
SNP
As members will hear as I go through my speech—if I have an opportunity to get into it—and as the cabinet secretary will confirm, the Government is already t...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills told the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association that she thought that the law that the minister has just desc...
Maree Todd
SNP
I am sure that the cabinet secretary will explain all that later. The Government is always looking to improve—there is no question about that. The motion re...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I agree with the minister’s point about language, particularly as it is mental health awareness week, but the reality is that, in Glasgow, for example, 9,000...
Maree Todd
SNP
CAMHS is simply not the correct service for children who are seeking a diagnosis for neurodevelopmental conditions, unless they are seeking support for a co-...
Miles Briggs
Con
Will the minister take an intervention?
Maree Todd
SNP
I will take one more intervention on that point.
Miles Briggs
Con
I have been listening to what the minister has to say. The biggest problem—and parents will say this to all of us—is that young people have to wait for years...
Maree Todd
SNP
Our overriding focus is on ensuring that people get the right help and support and that that help and support is available for our young people, particularly...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I appreciate that the minister was very generous in accepting interventions, but she will need to conclude as there is no time in hand.
Maree Todd
SNP
I fully recognise the important role that a diagnosis can play, but we have to recognise that diagnosis alone does not define or determine a child’s support ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Minister, you need to conclude, as you are well over your time. You will also need to move your amendment. Please do so now.
Maree Todd
SNP
We have clear recommendations that support—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Minister, I ask you to move your amendment and to please resume your seat.
Maree Todd
SNP
I will conclude. I move amendment S6M-17524.3, to insert at end: “agrees that all children and young people should receive the help that they need to thriv...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We have almost no time in hand. I can deal only with the time allocation that I have been given and I cannot magic time out of thin air. 15:39
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
All young people, including those with additional support needs, deserve the opportunity to learn and thrive, and our teachers, support staff, parents and pu...
Maree Todd
SNP
I acknowledge that many children and young people require more targeted support from specialist services, but many other children and young people will have ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I think that Ms Duncan-Glancy has got the gist, minister.
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
I am afraid to say that the 9,000 people on waiting lists for support in Glasgow will be pretty vocal in explaining that the universal provision is not meeti...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
You will need to bring your remarks to a close.
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
As Angela Morgan said, what we are talking about is no longer “additional”; it is the classroom now, and the Government needs to wake up and address the real...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
I thank Miles Briggs for giving us the opportunity to debate this issue today. I should start by making absolutely clear the Scottish Green Party’s support f...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
I start with a letter from a primary school teacher to the First Minister: “When I started teaching, inclusion was becoming more and more the norm within sc...
Karen Adam
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Willie Rennie
LD
I have only four minutes. They would prefer for them to get a specialist level of support, but it is felt that the cost that would be involved in that is pr...