Additional Support Needs (ASN) education in North Lanarkshire is set to be transformed following a comprehensive cross-party review of the sector.
At the heart of the proposals is a desire to improve the quality of education and the future life opportunities of young people with additional support needs.
It will see pupils educated in higher quality facilities, increased collaboration between schools and services, an improved leadership structure and strengthened career opportunities for staff working in this sector such as learning assistants.
In addition, up to 80 new modern apprenticeship posts will be created, providing outstanding career pathways for young people in North Lanarkshire.
Councillor Frank McNally, Convener of Education and Families, said the proposals would drive up standards in the sector and improve outcomes for young people who attend ASN establishments.
He said: “We are determined to provide all our young people with the best start in their lives, and these exciting proposals will go a long way to realising our ambitions by driving up standards within our Additional Support Needs establishments.
“Our ASN Review Group produced a blueprint for change, which could not be achieved with a few minor changes – it needed something more comprehensive; and that’s what we’re doing. This is a root and branch overhaul of additional needs in North Lanarkshire, bringing benefits to some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities for generations to come.”
In September 2019, the Education and Families Committee approved a review of Additional Support Needs services which established twelve key recommendations for action.
These proposals fulfil many of these recommendations including empowerment of staff to meet the needs of young people and will enable a greater connection between needs and the partnership response to them.
It also outlines a clear plan for the future of the ASN estate, which creates cluster ASN hubs and specialist provision around the campus model of the future.
In line with the council’s vision for North Lanarkshire, they will be established as part of the Community Investment Fund and developed as part of the ongoing work to prioritise community hub investment proposals.
The proposals will see changes to the school estate, including:
- Portland, Pentland and Fallside schools will come together to create a new ‘We Aspire College’ within the Coltness High School’s building.
- The proposal outlines that Mavisbank School primary aged children are relocated to Drumpark Primary School, as part of a planned development within Drumpark school.
- Clydeview school will move to the Cathedral campus in Motherwell within the existing Daisy Park Centre. It will become part of a shared headship arrangement with Fir Park Primary.
- Willowbank School will be permanently based within St Margaret’s High School building.
- Glencryan and Redburn will continue in their current buildings and work together to support pupils’ needs.
A statutory consultation process will take place on each of the above proposals with pupils, parents/carers and staff of the schools. The consultations will include education benefits statements from Education Scotland.
A report on the consultations will go before a future meeting of the Education and Families committee.
If approved, the new arrangements would be implemented from August 2021.