FOI/202500468381 · FOI · not held
Additional Support Needs (ASN) training and resources information: FOI release
Information requested
1. ASN Training and Professional Learning
Please provide details of any Additional Support Needs (ASN) training, professional learning programs, or guidance materials that the Scottish Government has developed, delivered, or endorsed in the past five years. This includes:
In-person training sessions Online modules or webinars Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses Guidance documents or toolkits
2. Involvement of Individuals with Lived Experience
Please advise whether any of the above ASN-related training involves input from individuals with lived experience of Additional Support Needs (e.g., autistic individuals, those with ADHD, PDA, or other conditions). Specifically:
Are any individuals with ASN, or ASN-focused advocacy organisations, directly involved in the development or delivery of training? Are materials authored or co-produced by those with lived experience included? If so, please provide details and materials used where possible.
3. Training Materials
Please provide copies of, or access to, any training materials used or distributed as part of ASNrelated professional learning. This includes:
PowerPoint presentations Slide decks or course notes Video content or transcripts Reading lists or handouts provided to attendees
4. Distribution and Reach
Please outline how such ASN training has been promoted and delivered to educators across Scotland. Where possible, include:
The number of sessions delivered The number of participants trained annually The intended audience (e.g., class teachers, school leaders, ASN specialists)
5. Time Allocation per Student
If available, please provide an estimate of the average number of ASN-specific contact hours or training hours delivered per student enrolled in teacher education programs. If this varies by course (e.g., primary vs. secondary, or PGDE vs. undergraduate), please disaggregate accordingly.
6. Additional ASN Preparation
Please indicate whether students are offered any additional ASN preparation outside core modules (e.g., optional workshops, placements in ASN schools, online courses), and provide details where applicable.
I would prefer to receive this information in electronic format. If you require any clarification to process this request, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Response
1. Since the pandemic, the majority of professional learning sessions are available online and/or as anytime learning. This approach supports equitable access to professional learning across the 32 local authorities.
Since 2020, over 100 in-person training sessions on a range of ASN areas have been provided by Education Scotland to a range of audiences including Early learning and childcare settings, senior leaders, ASN bases/enhances provisions and unions, partners and thirst sector settings.
As well as in person training, a range of free online modules and webinars are available through the Education Scotland website. There are also modules on dyslexia and inclusion and equalities available through the Open university website.
Training materials which are endorsed by Education Scotland are the ‘The addressing Dyslexia Toolkit’ and the ‘Autism Toolbox’ These are both available at the links below. .
The Addressing Dyslexia Toolkit The Autism Toolbox
2. Education Scotland’s professional learning opportunities and resources are collaboratively developed with a range of stakeholders. This includes those with lived experiences of additional support needs. However, Education Scotland do not hold a record of which materials have been co-produced or authored by those with lived experience. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) that Education Scotland does not hold the information you have requested.
3. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide copies of PowerPoint presentations and course notes for our in person training because an exemption under section 33(1)(b) commercial interests of FOISA apply.
This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially, the commercial interests of individuals/company(ies) providing services.
This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have concluded that the commercial interests of Education Scotland outweigh the public interest in releasing copies of our training materials.
However, a range of free online modules and training materials are available through the Education Scotland website, these can be located using the search function. In addition, there are modules on dyslexia and inclusion and equalities available through the Open university website and additional resources can be found on the Dyslexia Toolkit and the Autism Toolbox websites.
Please see links to the relevant websites below.
https://education.gov.scot/
https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/
https://addressingdyslexia.org/
https://www.autismtoolbox.co.uk/
Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.
4. Since 2020, Education Scotland has delivered over 100 sessions focused on ASN at the request of local authorities. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) that Education Scotland does not hold the information you have requested. Local authorities may hold details of the number of participants who attended sessions organised by them.
In addition, some of Education Scotland own Professional learning and leadership programmes have resources within them that focus on ASN. The number of participants on each of these programmes is outlined below.
Stepping stones (NQT); Numbers registered
2020 -1078 2021 - 871 2022 – 902
Since 2023 this has been a self-directed programme. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) that Education Scotland does not hold the information you have requested.
Aspiring to Middle Leadership; Participant numbers
AML 20/21 – 221 AML 21/22 – 653 AML 22/23 – 603 AML 23/24 – 372
Into headship programme (Runs over 18 months); Participant numbers
Into Headship Cohort 6 20/22 – 215 Into Headship Cohort 7 21/23 – 219 Into Headship Cohort 8 22/24 – 214 Into Headship Cohort 9 23/25 – 222
Autism and Inclusive Practice Professional Learning Programme; Participant numbers
2022/23 - 52 participants
Open University modules – since publication of 9 modules 25,819 badges have been awarded.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact Please quote the FOI reference Central Correspondence Unit Email: contactus@gov.scot Phone: 0300 244 4000 The Scottish Government St Andrew's House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG
Detected exemption language
This is a formal notice under section 17(1) that Education Scotland does not hold the information you have requested. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide copies of PowerPoint presentations and course notes for our in person training because an exemption under section 33(1)(b) commercial interests of FOISA apply. This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially, the commercial interests of individuals/company(ies) providing services. This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. https://education.gov.scot/ https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/ https://addressingdyslexia.org/ https://www.autismtoolbox.co.uk/ Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.
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