Special needs provision in Highlands to be reviewed
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A REVIEW is to be undertaken on the special needs of pupils in the Highlands as the area has the highest percentage in Scotland.
Thurso and Northwest Caithness Highland councillor Matthew Reiss welcomed the move after it emerged that 40.6 per cent of primary pupils have additional support needs compared with 29.9 per cent in Scotland as a whole.
The figure for secondary schools is 37 per cent in the Highlands and 23.5 per cent in Scotland.
Speaking at the latest meeting of Thurso Community Council, Councillor Reiss said: "Over the next few months all schools will be monitored. I can't believe Highland children have more difficulties than others. Some schools in the Highlands have 50 per cent of pupils with additional support needs.
"It is vital Highland Council gets this right. It is not an easy issue and that is why it is being done properly."
Councillor Reiss pointed out that it is expected to take up to three years to complete the review and carry out the changes.
Community councillor Thelma Mackenzie wondered if areas north of Inverness have the required resources to cater for the needs of such pupils in comparison to cities, such as Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
Councillor Reiss said there are facilities at Mount Pleasant primary and Thurso High schools. "They do fantastic work with children who have such difficulties," he replied.
Mrs Mackenzie thought more specialised teachers may help address the problem.
Community councillor Colin Johnston was surprised by the figures and said there seemed to be many more children requiring special support these days.
"You never heard about this when I was going to school," he stated.
Councillor Reiss said the issue was complex and stressed that parents wanted the best for their children. On more specialised teachers, he said: "We could always have more teachers."
Mrs Mackenzie also brought the subject up at the Thurso and Wick Trade Union Council meeting on Thursday night.
"We do not want to see children being disadvantaged. They should be getting the same assistance as children elsewhere," she said.
Mrs Mackenzie queried whether the lack of facilities was a factor in the high figure of pupils with additional support needs in the Highlands.
Keith Bramhall, a Unison representative, said: "We need to keep an eye on this."
A total of £36.1 million is spent by Highland Council on just over 12,000 pupils with additional support needs. That represents 6.7 per cent of the local authority's total budget, although it is expected cuts will have to be made over the next three years.
The council's education budget is £148.3 million which is spent on 203 schools in the Highlands.
