To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that local authorities are able to provide full-time schooling for children with complex additional support needs. (S6O-03511)

As members will be aware, local authorities have a duty under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 to plan and provide support for children and young people with additional support needs, including those with complex additional support needs. Despite the challenging financial climate that we face, spending on additional support for learning reached a record high of £926 million in 2022-23. The Scottish Government also provides £11 million of funding each year to directly support pupils with complex additional support needs and services for children and families.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting my constituent Nikolas McLennan, aged nine, and his parents at my surgery. Nikolas has had no full-time education for 18 months despite the best efforts of the fabulous Drumpark primary school, which is in my constituency. This young man’s needs are very complex. He has global developmental delay and is unable to speak or eat, and his parents tell me that they are concerned that the lack of education has had a very detrimental impact on his overall wellbeing. Despite representations from me and others, the council has knocked back a request for a specialist placement in nearby Cumbernauld, where his needs could be met on a full-time basis. What further support can be given to children such as Nikolas to ensure that they receive the education that they deserve and are entitled to?

I thank the member for bringing his constituent’s case to my attention. First, I am extremely sorry to hear about his experience and that of his parents, particularly the challenges that he has had in accessing his right to education. Clearly, there might be specific healthcare considerations in this case. However, the education authority—in this case, as I understand it, that is North Lanarkshire Council—remains responsible for ensuring that the appropriate educational support is provided. To that end, I strongly encourage Nikolas’s parents to engage with North Lanarkshire Council in order to fully understand why the placement has been refused and what the next steps might be. The Enquire service, which is funded by the Scottish Government, can also provide them with further advice on the matter.

The legislation on the presumption of mainstreaming has very clear exceptions to allow children and young people to learn in a special school or in specialist units if that would best meet their needs. Although school placements are, of course, a matter for our councils, parents have the right to make a placing request to the school of their choice. Although I cannot interfere in this specific case, I would certainly welcome it if Fulton MacGregor could provide further details on it so that my officials can provide more detailed advice.

Again, I would be grateful for concise questions and responses.