East Lothian Councillors will meet next week to decide whether to launch a consultation on a potential increase of specialist support for children with Additional Support Needs (ASN) at three schools.
In summary:
- East Lothian's specialist estate at capacity as numbers of children with Additional Support Needs grows
- Stoneyhill and Law primaries and Musselburgh Grammar proposed
- new provisions would be in line with existing spaces which are valued for their specialist and inclusive support
- Councillors will decide whether to go ahead with statutory consultation
In a report to East Lothian Council meeting on 17 February, elected members’ support is requested for a statutory consultation on proposals to establish specialist provisions at Law Primary School in North Berwick, Stoneyhill Primary and Musselburgh Grammar schools.
The provisions proposed are in line with those already in place at Dunbar, Sanderson’s Wynd, Windygoul primary schools and Knox Academy, Rosehill and Ross high schools. These spaces are valued by families and their school communities for the specialist and inclusive support they provide.
Rising numbers of children with ASN
Across Scotland, 43% of children and young people have Additional Support Needs and this figure is rising. Although work has been carried to increase capacity across East Lothian Council’s specialist school estate, Councillors will hear that it is now at capacity and an expansion is now required to meet roll projections.
The three schools have been identified following analysis of their roll projections revealed sufficient capacity for ASN expansion and to offer specialist provision in areas where there is currently none. The report notes that funding will be required for capital and staffing costs to support expansion if it is approved following consultation.
Statutory consultation to follow if approved
Formal statutory consultation is needed under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 to establish new specialist ASN provisions. Subject to members’ approval on 17 February, education officers propose to launch a statutory consultation to run 3 March to 5 May 2026. Exact details will be confirmed following consideration of the paper at next week’s Council meeting.