TEACHERS are being “set up to fail” vulnerable pupils, according to a new survey.
A poll of more than 12,000 teachers found 80 per cent did not believe pupils with additional support needs (ASN) such as autism and dyslexia had enough support.
Last week The Herald revealed the number of ASN pupils has reached a record high at time when specialist support staff are being cut. The imbalance has been cited as a reason for increasing indiscipline in the classroom.
The survey by the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) found 78 per cent disagreed with the statement that there was “adequate provision” for ASN children in their school.
Issues of most concern for EIS members were pay, rising workload and stress and concerns over their capacity to support ASN pupils.
One teacher responded: “The reality of more children with a huge range of additional needs coming into classes without additional staff, training or funding is setting us all up for failure.
“The needs of those children are not sufficiently met and the needs of all others are compromised because so much time and energy goes to the children with additional needs. Staff feel exhausted.”
Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the EIS, said: “Concern over levels of provision for ASN pupils is a significant issue that teachers want to see addressed.
“Budget cuts to ASN provision and staffing during the period of austerity have placed huge additional pressures on teachers and, even more worryingly, reduced the level of support available for pupils who need it.”
Mr Flanagan said the union would be raising the issue with councils and the Scottish Government.
Political opponents attacked the Scottish Government for failing to address the issue.
Tavish Scott, education spokesman for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said: “The verdict from Scotland’s teachers is damning.
“Under the SNP they are working longer and harder while seeing children struggle. That must be heart-breaking for dedicated professionals.”
Iain Gray, education spokesman for the Scottish Labour Party, attacked John Swinney, the Education Secretary.
He said: “The evidence from teachers is a damning indictment of John Swinney’s stewardship of our schools.”
Ross Greer, education spokesman for the Scottish Green Party, added: “The pressures of teaching in Scotland are well-known, yet ministers have paid scant attention to issues of overwork, falling pay and cuts to ASN staff.
“We will continue to hold the government to account for this tragic failure to support young people with additional needs.”
Official figures show there are now more than 199,000 ASN pupils compared to 118,000 in 2012 - an increase of 68 per cent.
The rise comes at a time when the number of teachers trained to support ASN pupils has fallen from 3,248 in 2012 to just 2,733. Behaviour support staff and educational psychologists are also decreasing.
In December, an investigation by Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner found challenging pupils were being routinely restrained or locked up in classrooms.
A recent survey of nearly 1,500 parents with vulnerable children raised significant concerns over the ability of schools to cope.
More than one third of parents said their child had been unlawfully excluded in the last two years with 22 per cent saying it had happened multiple times a week.
The Scottish Government were contacted for comment.
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