Natalie Jade Pinnell

Stock AI black and white image of 5 children and young people showing visible signs of distress. Hands covering their ears. Heads on hands. The writing states 223000 children missing school because their needs aren’t met. Neurodivergent kids left behind. Inclusion?

“ ghost children” unseen, unheard, unnoticed. We feel how unimportant our situation is to those in power. Anyone with any decency should be “ haunted “ by these figures. See what I did there? See these numbers, see our kids, this isn’t inclusion, it’s a national disgrace.

Black and white AI image of 5 children and young people looking upset with their heads on hands or looking forlornly out of a window. The caption reads 223 ooo mainly neurodivergent children and young people not in school or on very part time timetables in Scotland

Imagine the impact this would have on your family, your ability to work. We hear teachers shouting that they aren’t baby sitting services, how do teacher/ parent work? Because their kids are mainly in school. The long term impact on our families is devastating on multiple levels. You see us yet?

Black and white stock photo of a family mum dad and child. You can’t see their faces. They are sitting on a setee showing signs of anxiety and stress. Picture contains 223000 number of mainly neurodivergent kids in Scotland missing their education. A short list of impact includes parents: carers forced to quit work, financial stress and anxiety and despair.

We are not affiliated with any political party. Our members express every month how they feel ignored by ALL politicians and that blaming local authorities isn’t enough anymore. 230 000 children and young people in Scotlands extended families is a lot of votes to ignore or take for granted.

Parents 'outraged' as council bars private Speech and Language Therapists for pupils East Lothian Council took the decision to ban private speech and language therapists from its schools, causing fury among parents

www.scotsman.com/education/pa...

Temporary classrooms costing hard-up councils millions An investigation by The Herald has identified the ongoing costs of the use of temporary buildings at schools across the country.

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2587294...

Children with special educational needs have been let down again and again. That ends right now | Bridget Phillipson Too many young people go out into the world ill equipped. We’ll change that: we’ll give more rights and support to them and their families, says education secretary Bridget Phillipson

We're waiting to hear what the Govt's new proposals are on ASN/SEND/EHCP provision and we'd like to know what your thoughts are. We want to produce a podcast that truly reflects your opinion. Please email: Ronnie@bylines.scot

#ASN
#SEND
#EHCP

@empoweredscotland.bsky.social

Very disappointed to see this after so much work and progress to protect children

Council's education chief resigns over text messages about budget Dr Douglas Hutchison resigned with immediate effect on Tuesday after he realised the messages may become public.

news.stv.tv/west-central...

'Please give our boy the education he needs and deserves', parents plead The parents of a Greenock youngster who attends school for two and a half hours each day are pleading with council bosses to give their son the…

www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/2552711...

Capacity assessment form for making a complaint to a local authority, this form is to be completed by an autistic teenager as consent and understanding of the implications of making a complaint about the perceived lack of appropriate support they have received.

Capacity assessment form for an autistic teenager in mainstream education for the purposes of making a formal complaint

Capacity assessment form for an autistic teenager to complete to agree to making a formal complaint about their support in school

An actual form given to an autistic teenager who wishes to make a formal complaint about the support they are receiving in a mainstream setting. Do they understand the implications of making said complaint? It’s incredibly passive/ aggressive.

We appreciate the pressure teachers are under and appreciate those who do make a difference against the tide of never ending cuts to teacher numbers, increasing demands and still turn up.

Edinburgh mum forced to homeschool 'bright' young daughter who was 'left to rot' Melissa Hunter, 31, from Liberton, said she was forced to quit her job so she can educate her daughter full-time from home after multiple failures at Edinburgh council-run schools.

www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinbur...

Please share and complete. The more parent/ carer voices the better.

Please complete and share to as many as possible. Thank you 🙏

Having spoken to some of the parents at New Struan, I hope that more answers are able to be provided on why this crucial specialist is being closed especially while referrals were being declined.

Edinburgh mum horrified as daughter left to 'sleep under teacher's desk' The primary two pupil, who is six, was placed on a reduced timetable by the local authority, who her mum claims have been unable to meet her complex needs.

www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinbur...

The parent of an autistic child has a simple questions for Jenny Gilruth and John Swinney

"What are you going to do to fix this mess?"

Read the full interview in @heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2548126...

Why the closure of a specialist autism school is 'devastating' The parent of an autistic child explains why specialist schools are so vital, and calls on the Scottish Government to take action.

"It’s all seen as transactional, and she is just an expense – an expendable expense. That’s the worst part."

With another specialist school due to close, one parent talks to me about the impact on her autistic daughter.

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2548126...

This, of course, comes at a time of enormous financial pressures in Scottish education – in recent years, councils have cut funding for teacher numbers, school transport and ASN provision in an effort to balance their books, and a several settings have been mothballed or permanently closed.

A huge thank you to @jamesmcenaney.bsky.social at @heraldscotland.bsky.social for covering this story and shedding light on what is a devastating reality for education in Scotland

@lauralundy.bsky.social @parliament.scot @abshirecouncil.bsky.social @childreninscotland.bsky.social @together-sacr.bsky.social @auditscotland.bsky.social

@closethegap.org.uk @bylines.scot @scotchildlaw.bsky.social @beckyporter.bsky.social @makingrightsreal.bsky.social @auditscotland.bsky.social @jamesmcenaney.bsky.social @neilmackay.bsky.social

Huge thanks to Gráinne from STV for covering this story and helping to raise awareness about the huge challenges ASN families are facing across education in Scotland.

Proud to work with @empoweredscotland.bsky.social to continue advocating and pushing for change on a national level.

Unbelievably unsurprising

Please read and share important piece.

And governments respond to failures by shifting blame on to local councils. Neither willing to take ownership or responsibility

This ⬇️

Totally agree

CONNECT'S NEW PARENT/CARER SURVEY LAUNCHES - School Attendance: Hearing from Families about Supporting Children www.surveymonkey.com/r/3SCRDG8 It's complex & challenging for families if children & young people feel unable to go to school: we want to hear from parents & carers.

CONNECT'S NEW PARENT/CARER SURVEY LAUNCHES - School Attendance: Hearing from Families about Supporting Children www.surveymonkey.com/r/3SCRDG8 It's complex & challenging for families if children & young people feel unable to go to school: we want to hear from parents & carers.