(UK) Scotland: 25% of kids are SPED; increase of 55% since 2012

Dec 12, 2017, (Scotland) The Herald: Number of vulnerable children reaches record high http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/education/15742485.Number_of_vulnerable_children_reaches_record_high/# THE number of vulnerable pupils in Scottish schools has reached a record high at a time of cuts to support services, new figures show. Statistics from the Scottish Government show the number of pupils with Additional Support Needs (ASN) is 183,491. The figure represents more than a quarter of the overall pupil population and an increase of over 55 per cent since 2012. … A coalition spokesman said: “It is promising that this increase tells us more young people with ASN are being identified, but it comes against a worrying background of cuts. “The cost to society if investment is not increased will hinder any efforts to close the educational attainment gap.” Liz Smith, education spokeswoman for the Scottish ConservativeParty, described the statistics as “alarming”. … ASN covers pupils with a range of issues including learning disabilities, dyslexia, a visual or hearing impairment, language or speech disorders, autism and social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. In May last year a poll by the ENABLE Scotland charity found 70 per cent of ASN pupils said they lacked support while 94 per cent of parents felt schools were not getting enough resources. The survey, of more than 250 parents and children, also found 85 per cent of young people with learning disabilities said they