Additional support for learning: action plan (updated October 2021)

An updated ASL action plan, setting out the progress made since October 2020, to deliver against the recommendations made by the review of implementation of additional support for learning.


4.1 Audit Scotland

Recommendation

Audit Scotland must use the key themes in this report and the associated findings from Audit Scotland's audit of educational outcomes to inform the scope of their national performance audit on outcomes for children and young people with additional support needs.

Actions to be taken forward - Oct 2020

The Scottish Government and Local Government will engage with Audit Scotland on a national performance audit on outcomes for children and young people with additional support needs.

At the conclusion of this work, COSLA and the Scottish Government will consider any outcomes and recommendations which are made.

Status Oct 2021

On-going / paused due to Covid-19

Progress made:

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, Audit Scotland has reviewed its work programme on behalf of the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission. A national performance audit on outcomes for children with additional support needs has not yet been commissioned.

Audit Scotland's report on Improving outcomes for young people through school education (audit-scotland.gov.uk) was published in March 2021. While this audit did not look specifically at outcomes for children and young people who need additional support, it concluded that evidence shows that Covid-19 has had additional detrimental impacts on these children and young people. The Scottish Government and COSLA will ensure that the findings from this report inform our work as it progresses.

The Scottish Government and COSLA would expect to fully engage with any audit of outcomes for children and young people with additional support needs undertaken.

4.1.1

Recommendation

This must include assessing spend on additional support for learning across services; and its impact on attainment; and outcomes for children and young people at all stages, highlighting good practice and gaps.

Actions to be taken forward - Oct 2020

COSLA and Scottish Government will seek to work with other partners to consider the outcomes and any recommendations made.

Status Oct 2021

On-going / paused due to Covid-19

Progress made:

The Scottish Government and Local Government remain committed to working with partners to consider any outcomes from future work undertaken by Audit Scotland on additional support for learning.

Contact

Email: supportinglearners@gov.scot

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