The annual census of school pupils and teachers in Scotland highlighted a decline in support offered to children with most complex needs.
The number of pupils in Scotland identified with additional support needs has reached a record high.
It comes as the number of special schools and the level of statutory support offered to children with the most complex needs declines.
The Scottish Government’s annual census of pupils and teachers in publicly-funded schools revealed two in five children require additional support needs (ASN), such as autism, dyslexia and mental health problems – representing just over 40% of the Scottish pupil population.
The figures have more than doubled in the last decade, with figures in 2014 recording 140,542 pupils with ASN, rising to 284,448 in 2024.
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC) has raised concerns over the figures, highlighting an ongoing lack of support for those with ASN, including cuts in the numbers of specialist ASN teachers and support staff.
The group is calling for increased resourcing to address the issue, which is having an impact on surging levels of classroom disruption and violence, as well as adequate training and development of staff.
The organisation added that more specialist teachers, pupil support assistants, mental health professionals and educational psychologists are needed in the education sector.
It comes as the number of special schools in Scotland has dropped in the last decade, from 145 in 2014 to 107 in 2024.
The SCSC has also voiced concerns over a declining number of those with complex or multiple ASN needs receiving a coordinated support plan (CSP).
Prepared by local authorities, CSPs are the only education plans that are legally enforceable documents. They require services such as education, health and social work to work together to give a child or young person the support they need.
Despite a promise made by the Scottish Government that there would be no reduction in the proportion of pupils receiving them since their introduction in 2004, there has been a significant fall in the number of pupils with a CSP.
In 2014, there were 3,128 pupils with CSPs, however this fell to 1,215 in 2024, amounting to a 61.1% drop and a reduction from 2.2% to 0.4% of those with ASN.
A spokesperson for the SCSC said: “While more children and young people are being identified as having ASN, now at a record high, this is against the increasingly challenging backdrop of a lack of specialist teachers, support staff and the resources needed to support them.
“This is not only letting down thousands of children and young person, but also their fellow pupils, teachers and support staff. Increased support is critical, especially post the Covid-19 pandemic and the damaging impact this has had on many of our children and young people, exacerbated by the cost of living crisis, all of which is hitting the poorest hardest.
“A decline in the number of special schools is also worrying, putting increased pressure on the mainstream sector, with many of those with ASN more suited to a special school environment.”
The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.
