Angry West Lothian parents demand more help for ASN kids

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Angry West Lothian parents staged a protest this week demanding more help for children with additional support needs.The parents and carers descended on the Civic Centre in Livingston with placards and banners as part of the ASN Reform Scotland campaign in their fight to change the way their children are treated by the education system.A petition has also been launched seeking to “end the special education crisis in Scotland”, which over 18,000 people have signed.Campaigners say there need to be an end to “the presumption for mainstream school” while more specialist schools and support teachers are needed.They say mainstream teachers aren’t trained properly in dealing with kids who have complex needs and there are insufficient spaces and unacceptable waiting times for special education school spaces.Nikki Taylor, who is spearheading the campaign and was at the demonstration, said there had been a 34.2 per cent increase in ASN children in Scotland over the last year we are seeing and increased number of individualized education program (IEPs) but a decrease of 10 per cent in teacher ratios.She continued: “That means although there is a greater need for educational support there aren’t enough teachers to support them.“This can’t continue as our children are being failed by a system which has become outdated and overstretched.“ASN places are limited, with only 19 ASN schools across Scotland leading to children being forced into an education setting and an education not fit for purpose.“This has resulted in a lot of ASN children struggling in mainstream school and not being able to cope.“This is causing untold amounts of stress to ASN parents as well and even a vast number of parents willing to move to wherever a place is