Funding for pupil support assistants in Scotland

Approximately 1,000 extra pupil support assistants will be recruited in Scotland to work with children with additional support needs.

£15 million of Scottish Government funding will be available for councils to expand on the 13,636 pupil support assistants already working in Scotland’s classrooms.

Visiting West End Campus in Dundee, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “Every child should have the support they need to reach their full learning potential. Through listening to the experiences of children and young people with additional support needs, their families and those who support them, we recognise we need to do more to enhance their experience at school."

Deputy First Minister John Swinney continued: “Working in partnership with local authorities we will invest an extra £15 million in the coming year to increase frontline staff to support learners with additional support needs.

“This will make an significant impact in our classrooms and will help to ensure our young people and their families get the right help at the right time.”

The Scottish Government will now work with Cosla to determine how the £15 million funding will be allocated.