Young people with additional support needs (ASN) will continue to face barriers to education and employment unless more money is invested in specialist colleges, the chief of Capability Scotland has said.
Brain Logan has lambasted the Scottish Government for failing to dedicate a single penny of its budget to educating people with complex needs aged over 16.
Finance secretary Shona Robison pledged £29 million to an ASN plan to train and support teachers. However, none of this was pledged to Corseford College, run by Capability Scotland in Inchinnan.
Describing the budget as a “missed opportunity”, Mr Logan argued ASN young people should be entitled to the same positive destination after school as their abled-bodied peers.
“We are deeply disappointed that the Scottish budget has failed to improve Scotland’s ASN facilities within further education centres,” he said.
“This omission underscores a missed opportunity to make meaningful, long-term investments that would transform the lives of countless young people with ASN.
“The decision to retrofit staff and mainstream further education facilities, instead of creating and investing in dedicated ASN support staff and specialist teachers is short-sighted, and risks failing the very students who need tailored support the most.”
The Paisley Daily Express revealed last week how Corseford College risks closure at the end of this academic year unless the Scottish Government commits to a sustained funding package.
The college opened in 2022 under an initial two-year pilot scheme – and achieved funding for another year from the Scottish Government. However, no commitment has been made for further funding, leaving the college at risk of closure by June 2025.
Capability Scotland is now advocating for robust, cross-party support to secure the college’s future and to expand similar services across the country.
Mr Logan said: “At Capability Scotland, we see first-hand the difference that well-resourced, specialist facilities and staff make in enabling individuals with ASN to thrive.
“Our facility Corseford College, Scotland’s first dedicated college for young people with complex needs, demonstrates what is possible when we invest in tailored, specialist facilities and highly skilled staff.
“It provides a lifeline to students and families, proving that with the right resources, ASN learners can achieve their full potential. However, this should not be the exception – it should be the standard across Scotland.
“Without a commitment to improving and expanding these resources, we risk limiting opportunities for ASN learners, reinforcing barriers to education and employment, and undermining Scotland’s potential to be an inclusive and forward-thinking nation.”
He added: “This is not just a matter of fairness – it is essential for building a future where every young person in Scotland, regardless of their needs, has a positive destination to go to post-school.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “It is vital that young people with disabilities and those with long-term medical conditions or additional support needs are supported as they leave school towards work or training.
“Over the past three years, more than £1m has been provided to Capability Scotland to support the Corseford pilot for young people with complex additional support needs, delivering physical therapies and life-skills development.
“We are working alongside Capability Scotland to commission an independent evaluation of the pilot will allow us to explore a sustainable approach to specialist provision going forward.”
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