To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to improve access to support for pupils with additional support needs, including access to speech and language therapists. (S6O-04279)

Our additional support for learning action plan is being delivered in partnership with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland and our education partners to improve access to the support that children and young people with additional support needs require in order to reach their full potential.

We recognise the importance of language development and are investing to support early intervention in speech, language and communication, including through the national early language and communication team, which is made up of seven senior speech and language therapists who have been seconded to Education Scotland. That team is working locally and nationally to support improved outcomes in early language and communication development for children.

Research shows that there are higher levels of disruptive behaviour among children who have been identified as having communication needs, while demand for speech and language services has increased since the pandemic. The most recent data shows that there is a 17 per cent vacancy rate for speech and language therapists, and that waiting times are reaching years.

Given the on-going issues with behaviour in schools, how is the Scottish Government increasing the supply of speech and language therapists?

I thank the member for his interest. He raises an important point about the role of specialists in our schools, which is why the Government’s budget provides an extra £29 million to local authorities specifically for such additionality. We are looking at how we can provide more funding to local authorities for specialist provision, including for speech and language therapists.

The member asked about the national picture in relation to speech and language therapists. NHS Scotland’s speech and language therapist workforce has increased by 6.7 per cent over the past decade. I hope that he welcomes that improvement.

However, I recognise the on-going challenge. It is worth recounting, again, the changes that we have seen in some of our youngest citizens post the pandemic. I have engaged with a number of early learning and childcare facilities on the issue, and I know that the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise does so regularly.

A number of different approaches are being taken at local level. I recently visited Balmullo nursery in Fife, where the local authority is using a variety of approaches to upskill the nursery staff in relation to speech and language. Therefore, the support that is provided need not necessarily involve the provision of speech and language therapists; it can include the provision of support to upskill staff in our ELC facilities.

The extra investment in the budget will help to support that work, and I hope that the member will reconsider his party’s position on backing the budget.

Question 7 comes from Bob Doris, who joins us remotely.