Scottish Children's Services Coalition

24/09/2026

We respond to calls from Scotland's headteachers for greater support for those with additional support needs (ASN) in our schools. While we support a presumption of mainstreaming, we urgently need sufficient staffing, appropriate specialist services and provision, professional support, and resources. Falkland House School Spark of Genius Young Foundations Young Foundations The Scotsman

The warning from headteachers that schools increasingly rely on teachers' goodwill to support pupils with additional support needs should set alarm bells ringing (22nd September - Heads relying on 'goodwill' of teachers as additional needs levels 'not sustainable').

22/09/2026

We fully agree with School Leaders Scotland (SLS) that urgent action is needed to strengthen Additional Support Needs (ASN) provision, with sufficient staffing and appropriate specialist services, supported by a national ASN workforce strategy. Falkland House School Spark of Genius Young Foundations Love Care The Scotsman

Among a suite of measures, School Leaders Scotland is looking for local authorities to strengthen partnerships with outreach services including CAMHS and social work

09/09/2026

As a coalition, it is hugely disappointing to see The Scottish Government fail to include a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill in its Programme for Government.

Service improvements are welcome, but without clear targets and timescales, there is no guarantee they will deliver the lasting change that children, adults and families desperately need.

The Government itself acknowledges that legislation can drive accountability and change. It should therefore set clear, measurable timescales for improvement – and commit to introducing an LDAN Bill if these are not met. Love Care Falkland House School Spark of Genius Young Foundations Autism in Scotland - AiS National Autistic Society Scotland Scottish Autism

Posts about LAN Bill disappointment written by davepickering

13/08/2026

What a great event! Who Cares? Scotland Spark of Genius Young Foundations Falkland House School Love Care The Scottish Parliament

12/08/2026

We are urging The Scottish Government Ministers to make specialist mental health services for children and young people a priority, noting it is now “impossible” for the Scottish Government to meet its spending target.
The Government previously pledged to increase spending on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to 1% of overall NHS spending by 2026, but figures show that in 2024-25, funding had risen to 0.84% of total health service expenditure. Falkland House School Young Foundations Love Care Spark of Genius

The latest figures show 0.84% of NHS expenditure went on child and adolescent mental health services in 2024-25, below the 1% promised.

26/07/2026

We were pleased to be able to contribute to this
Daily Record article highlighing the campaign by to tackle the growing crisis over delays in assessment for children with ADHD and autism. Scottish Autism Falkland House School Love Care Spark of Genius Young Foundations

17/07/2026

We raise our concerns in the media over statistics indicating that more than 12,000 pupils in Scotland have missed at least half the school year and the need for greater support for those with additional support needs (ASN) Falkland House School Love Care Spark of Genius Edinburgh Evening News

07/07/2026

As a coalition of organisations working with vulnerable children and young people, we repeat our call in The Herald for increased investment as the country grapples with a huge rise in the number of pupils with additional support needs (ASN).

This increase to 45 per cent in the number of pupils with ASN “highlights one of the greatest challenges facing Scottish education” and this “should concern every policymaker in Scotland.” Falkland House School Spark of Genius Love Care

Charities have called for urgent investment in schools after new data showed 43 of Scotland's pupils now have additional support needs, with…

22/05/2026

Delighted to see that "Promise Bill" has received Royal Assent and has become an Act. The Act includes a lifelong entitlement to advocacy services for all care-experienced people, ensuring their voices are better heard. We are delighted to have campaigned for this. The Promise Scotland Falkland House School Young Foundations Spark of Genius Love Care

14/05/2026

Thank you to STV News for featuring SCSC members Falkland House School and Love Care on the issue of an almost 300 per cent increase in the number of kids being homeschooled due to a lack of school support, especially for those with additional support needs (ASN) Educational Institute of Scotland Spark of Genius Young Foundations

A growing number of children are out of school as home education in Scotland rises by almost 300% in a decade.