Number of Scottish pupils who need additional support hits 43%
Logan Smith
Image by @heyquiilia via Unsplash
The number of Scottish school children with additional support needs (ASN) has reached a record high of 43%, with almost 300,000 pupils now qualifying for support.
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), have warned of “a lost generation of vulnerable children and young people.”
Additional support is currently provided for a variety of conditions and learning disabilities including autism, dyslexia, mental health conditions and bereavement.
All mainstream schools in Scotland have been required to provide ASN since the passing of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act in 2004.
The number of pupils requiring ASN has increased by a staggering 760% since the passing of the bill, with the numbers increasing yearly.
Figures from the Scottish Government’s annual pupil census show that as of 2025, 299,445 pupils in Scottish state schools can be classed as having ASN. In 2004 this figure was only 33,000.
At the same time, specialist schools have been closing across Scotland.
Several sites have been shut down over the last decade with numbers falling from 144 in 2015 to 107 in 2025.
Image by @mclee via Unsplash
A SCSC spokesperson said: “A decline in the number of special schools is also worrying, putting increased pressure on the mainstream sector.”
Further statistics illustrate this increase in pressure, with ASN students being almost five times more likely to be excluded from school than non-ASN students.
The cause of this significant increase in ASN pupils is debated by Government officials and scientists.
Officials note that changes in recording methods, greater understanding of mental health and changing societal attitudes towards disability amplify the figures.
Dr Carole Campbell, head of inclusion for Glasgow City Council, says that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on school attendance, directly contributing to the increase in the number of ASN students.
SCSC is calling for greater resources for schools and more training for teachers and support staff.