A report, partly conducted by researchers from Strathclyde University found that, overall, Scotland is one of the best countries in Europe for educating special needs pupils and those from minority groups.

However, Professor Rae Condie, from the university’s department of educational and professional studies, warned that the quality of provision varied from council to council because it was not evaluated at a national level.

Calling on the Scottish Government to conduct a study of the best projects the country has to offer, she said: “If we don’t learn from what is working and share that information on a national level we will continue to rely on the worth of local initiatives.

“In addition, if we don’t analyse why individual initiatives are successful there is a risk we will not be able to replicate them when those who are responsible move on.”

Her comments came after the publication of a European-wide report into the education of special needs pupils, refugee, asylum seeker and gypsy children, as well as those in care and from ethnic and linguistic minorities.

The study, financed by the European Commission, found that none of the countries was meeting all of the key indicators for successful pupil inclusion.

However, Scotland’s tally of achieving six out of the seven indicators was the highest of the nations assessed.

In Scotland, it was found that one crucial element was additional funding, which had been used to raise expectations for their future attainment.

“The national reports on Scotland ... revealed that the ideal of inclusive education is feasible for almost all pupils with special needs, disabilities and physical or mental handicaps,” the report states. “This general conclusion was supported by research documentation that showed good educational results for all.”

Ms Condie welcomed the findings, but said policymakers in Scotland should not be complacent. “For most disadvantaged groups, national policies are in place, more or less, but there are few national initiatives resulting from them and it is left to local authorities and individual communities to devise their own solutions,” she said.

Ms Condie called on the Scottish Government to conduct a Scotland-wide exercise to assess the best work in this area and publicise it on a dedicated website.

The Scottish Government said it was committed to making sure every child got the support they needed to get the best education. “That’s why we are investing record levels of funding in local government to provide education authorities with the flexibility to allocate the resources available to them to meet their local needs and priorities,” said a spokeswoman.

“There are a number of bodies who provide advice and information at a national level. While we have not seen this report, we will consider the recommendations it makes.”