Additional Support for Learning Project Board minutes: March 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) (CHAIR)
• Scottish Government (SG)
• Education Scotland (ES)
• Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES)
• Grant Aided Special Schools (GASS)
• Education Institute of Scotland (EIS)
• Children in Scotland (CiS)
• SG Early Learning and Childcare Team (SG ELC)
• National Autism Implementation Team (NAIT)
• Connect
• Association of Scottish Principal Education Psychologists (ASPEP)
• SG Supporting Learners’ Team (SG)
• Audit Scotland (Observer)

Apologies

• UNISON
• Social Work Scotland
• ADES Early Years
• ENABLE

Items and actions

Welcome and introductions

The Chair welcomed members to the meeting of the Additional Support for Learning (ASL) Project Board (PB). Members were thanked for coming to the meeting. The Chair welcomed Sarah Elliot from Education Scotland, who was attending their first meeting. Apologies were noted.

Audit Scotland report

SG introduced this item to the PB. Audit Scotland published their report into ASL on the 27 February, following which the report was considered by the Public Audit Committee on 19 March. The report made 2 fundamental recommendations, one around data improvement, and the other around evaluating the planning, funding and staffing of ASN in schools. It was noted that with just over a year until the next election, considerations should be given to work that can be done in the immediate term. Members were invited to provide their views. Scottish Government and COSLA have not yet responded formally to the report, but will do so in due course.

Members queried how this report would affect the work of the PB over the next period. It was noted the National Measurement Framework (NMF) was raised in the report as part of the recommendation for data improvement, and that an update on progress with the NMF would be helpful. The Chair noted that whilst the PB’s focus will remain on the delivery of the ASL action plan, that they will still give consideration to the Audit Scotland recommendations.

Members noted that the Audit Scotland recommendations could be supported by work throughout the ASL action plan, such as the actions relating to development of professional learning. Members suggested it may be helpful to review the ASL action plan in light of the Audit Scotland report, to understand where they both overlap.

It was noted that the COSLA Children and Young People Board discussed the Audit Scotland Report on the 7 March. It was noted that the Board highlighted that the inclusion or reference to tribunals seemed to be missing, and that rurality was not referenced.

National measurement framework

SG provided an update on this item. During the PB’s November 2024 meeting an NMF paper was presented that set out a 3 phased approach, with actions identified to enable the development different iterations of the dashboard. The NMF now sits with SG analysts to take forward, who are working on having it embedded within the National Improvement Framework Interactive Evidence Report (NIFIER). The NMF will be developed over the coming months and will be put into a testing phase in June, with the first iteration ready by December 2025 as part of a refresh of the whole NIFIER. Links between the NMF and Audit Scotland recommendations were noted, colleagues are considering how these can be progressed in tandem. Project Board members will be kept informed of any progress made in this area.

Members welcomed this updated, acknowledging the amount of work that has allowed the NMF to get to this stage. Members considered that if possible, it would be helpful to see an early version of the dashboard and focus a Project Board session to discuss it with SG analysts. It was noted that work between ES, Attainment Advisors and Local Authorities will be required to ensure the best use of the data.

Action:

• Supporting Learners’ team to liaise with SG analysts to agree an appropriate date in the development process to engage with the PB.

Communications

Relationships and communications is one of the key themes set out in Angela Morgan’s review of ASL, and communications is one of the ASL PB’s key priorities. Following a helpful discussion on communications at the January PB meeting, SG approached Enquire and produced a paper for the PB on how a potential communications strategy can be developed. The proposed strategy contains work to be delivered by the end of parliamentary term and beyond. It was noted Enquire have a wealth of experience in this area to lead the work, but PB members will need to engage to ensure it gets maximum output.

The proposed communications strategy will be circulated to the ASL PB week beginning 12 May, to be shared with each organisation’s communications colleagues for feedback. After comments have been received, the communications strategy will be presented at the PB meeting on 29 May for discussion. In June, Enquire plan to share a final version of the strategy with clear asks of PB members to be initiated before the PB meeting in July. Enquire will present progress updates between July and December, and will update on next steps at each PB meeting.

Members noted their thanks to Enquire for taking on this work, and welcomed the opportunity to work together. It was highlighted that we must remain conscious of target audience and ensure our messaging accurately reflects the experiences on the ground. It was noted that the training & resources sub-group had worked on producing a visual mapping exercise on resources available for parents that could be shared with the PB to support the communications work going forward.

 Action:

• Project Board members to share draft communications strategy with their communication leads

ASL Action Plan update

Members were updated on progress with the ASL Action Plan. A refreshed action plan was presented with a particular focus on the remaining actions to be delivered by the March 2026 deadline. As noted at the PB meeting in January, the remaining actions have been grouped by priority area to allow progress to be aligned between overlapping actions, and for the Project Board to understand which areas are progressing well and which areas need urgent attention. Supporting Learners’ team will be in regular contact with PB members to update the action plan over the coming weeks and months.

ASL Project Board meeting forward look

Members were invited to give their thoughts on how future PB meetings could be structured and what their specific focus could be. With the final ASL action plan update and progress report due in March 2026, it is likely that the PB will begin shifting their focus to that in November. This leaves the PB with 3 more meetings in May, July and September to consider other business. It was noted the PB had previously had deep dives on specific actions in the action plan, and have had discussions on the 3 priority areas, so an option could be to return to that format.

Members proposed the following suggestions for the next 3 Project Board meetings:

• A number of actions which relate to training remain in the action plan, therefore, a session on professional learning could be useful. It was proposed this could be an in-person session in September, with SG workforce colleagues potentially attending too
• A session on data to receive updates on the NMF and to discuss the general issue of data in detail. Discussion on challenges with SEEMIS could be a part of this session, members agreed relevant parties out with the PB membership should be invited to participate in these discussions
• Discussions on the refresh of the Code of Practice could take place in July or September as part of the consultation process
• An update to the PB on plans for national work for the £1m in the 2025-26 budget
• Discuss how the wider work of education reform can align with remaining actions
• Discuss potential implications of the SG disabled children and young people transition to adulthood strategy on ASL once it is published in May
• Broaden the people who are invited to PB meetings to get more value on specific topics
• Forum of in-person meetings would be ideal. It was proposed the PB meeting in May be held in person, SG would look at options for a venue and extend the meeting time

Action:

• SG to look for a venue to host an in-person PB session in May and extend the meeting time.

Any other business

The ASL Network will meet at the end of April or beginning of May. A date for the meeting will be circulated to Network members soon.

No other business was raised, and the Chair brought the meeting to a close.

Date of next meeting

The PB will meet next on the 29 May 2025, venue to be decided.

 

Scottish Government

March 2025