THE Scottish Parliament has been accused of failing to consider the financial implications of integrating pupils with special needs into mainstream schools.
A new report by Audit Scotland and HM Inspectorate of Schools has also revealed that even mainstream schools which have been successful in including pupils with SEN – a policy introduced as part of the Standards in Schools Act 2000 – had not been able to meet fully the particular needs of one or more pupils.
The document estimates the cost of making alterations such as ramps, lifts and security measures to a single secondary for pupils with SEN could be up to £3.7m.
Integrated
The extra annual bill for Scotland as a whole is put at between £38m and £121m, depending on the number of children with special needs to be integrated – an increase of 15-40 per cent in the SEN budget.
Auditor general, Robert Black, commented: “Because the financial implications were not fully considered when this legislation was amended, no-one knew the likely cost of mainstreaming.
“It is essential for effective democratic scrutiny that the financial consequences of all legislation, including amendments, are
analysed and considered carefully by Parliament.”
The Equity Group’s director, Laura Bowden, remarked: “Audit Scotland has rightly identified a number of issues around the mainstreaming of pupils with disabilities.
“By and large, there has been little planning or consideration given to the practical steps that have to be taken to prepare for the presumption of mainstream education.
“Our annual conference in Edinburgh this week focused on the pockets of good practice here in Scotland because we have to get better at being open to change and learning from and with each other.
“Our experience, borne out by the Audit Scotland report, is that this is simply not happening.
“We have a particular concern that teachers and health professionals currently being trained continue to have only a few hours in their entire training course on inclusion,
“The shift to mainstream provision is not going to happen without a great deal of planning, effort, training and goodwill.
“The Equity Group is dedicated to helping families, local authorities, schools and teachers to achieve effective inclusion for all
children.”
Tags: importtfn
