There are now more than 199,000 pupils with additional support needs (ASN) in Scotland, compared with 118,000 in 2012 - an increase of 68 per cent, official figures show.

The rise, reported in The Herald newspaper, 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.

Opposition politicians have demanded immediate action from the Scottish government to increase levels of support.

Under current legislation, a statutory duty is placed on councils to provide for ASN pupils, which covers a range of issues including: learning disabilities; dyslexia; visual or hearing impairments; language or speech disorders; autism; and social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Lack of support for such pupils has led to concerns about growing classroom disruption, as well as concern about the way children with ASN are being treated in school.

Inclusion policy ‘should be reviewed’

Liz Smith, education spokeswoman for the Scottish Conservatives, called for a review of the policy of inclusion, which works on the basis that the best place for the vast majority of children is in a mainstream school.

She said: “These figures prove the need for a full debate about how best to support our most vulnerable pupils, most specifically whether it is now time to review the appropriateness of the presumption to mainstream.

“Teachers generally support the laudable aims behind the policy, but a growing number tell us it does not work well for a large number of young people.”

Iain Gray, education spokesman for the Scottish Labour Party, said large numbers of ASN pupils were struggling to cope.

He added: “With further cuts to local authorities in the SNP’s budget, it is only going to get worse. The damaging educational consequences for these children, and indeed all teachers and pupils, are real and urgent.”

A Scottish government spokesman said: “We want all children and young people to receive the support they need to reach their full potential.

“The Additional Support for Learning Act places duties on councils to identify, provide for and review the needs of pupils with additional support needs.

“The legislation on the use of coordinated support planning is clear. To support understanding of the legislation, including the use of non-statutory planning mechanisms, and the extension of rights to children and young people, the statutory guidance on additional support for learning was updated and published in January 2018.”