Moray Council approves new support measures for children with additional needs
Moray Council’s Education, Children’s and Leisure Services Committee has agreed on plans for how £485,000 of Scottish Government funding will be used to strengthen support for children and young people with additional support needs (ASN).
The funding, which covers 2025/26 and 2026/27, will be used to recruit new staff and expand existing support to help schools meet learners’ needs more effectively.
As part of the plans, eight Early Level Support Workers will be introduced across Moray to help children move smoothly from nursery to Primary 1. These staff will work closely with schools to support young children who need extra help during this important transition stage.
A new Secondary Outreach Team will also be created to work with secondary schools across Moray. The team will focus on supporting pupils with behavioural or attendance challenges, helping schools find positive ways to keep young people engaged in learning.
The remaining funding of £42k will be used to support staff training, helping teachers and support staff continue to build their skills in inclusive practice and supporting learners with additional needs.
A change of approach to how ASN provision is delivered in Moray from August 2024 saw staff across schools and early years settings receiving training on trauma-informed practice, supporting neurodiversity and the use of visual supports to help communication and understanding in classrooms. Moray Council now takes a whole school approach to supporting pupils, with more access to specialist staff and tailored plans agreed by parents, staff and pupils where appropriate.
Moray Council’s Chair of the Education, Children’s and Leisure Services Committee, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, said: “We’re committed to giving every child and young person in Moray the support they need to learn and thrive. These new roles and training opportunities will help staff across our schools respond more effectively to learners’ needs and make classrooms more inclusive for everyone. It’s a positive step towards creating the best possible learning environment for all. We know we have a long way to go to reach 100% of pupils receiving their education, but we’re well on the journey to reach this target and I’m particularly grateful to staff for embracing the change in approach over the last year.”