A recent review of Additional Support Needs (ASN) spaces across Aberdeen City Council’s School Estate has highlighted a range of good practices, with schools demonstrating creativity and flexibility in how they use space to support pupils with ASN.
The findings were presented today (Tuesday 24 June) to the Education and Children’s Services Committee, where members heard that while many schools are making effective use of available space, there are also significant challenges – both in existing buildings and in the planning and design of future school infrastructure. The full report can be viewed here.
Councillor Martin Greig, convener of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “This review highlights the dedication and creativity of our schools in supporting pupils with additional needs. It’s encouraging to see so many examples of good practice across the city. At the same time, we must acknowledge the challenges that exist and ensure our planning and investment in school buildings reflect the evolving needs of all learners.”
Councillor Jessica Mennie, vice-convener of Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “Providing inclusive and supportive learning environments is a key priority. This review gives us valuable insight into how we can better design and adapt our school spaces to meet the needs of pupils with ASN. I am grateful to all the staff who contributed to this work and who continue to make a difference every day in our schools.”
The review was carried out collaboratively by officers in the Corporate Landlord cluster and colleagues in Education and Lifelong Learning, who assessed current usage of ASN spaces and identified examples of innovative and effective practice.
The work also drew on the Exploration of Learners’ Needs conducted by the Educational Psychology Service (EPS) in November 2024, and considered the findings of Audit Scotland’s February 2025 report on Additional Support for Learning.
While some of the challenges identified may require national-level policy decisions, the committee agreed that there are important local considerations for how the Council plans and manages its school estate moving forward.
As a result, the committee noted the current provision of spaces offered across the whole school estate and instructed the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to:
- identify any opportunities for sharing good practice in order to develop support for ASN for the benefit of pupils and school communities;
- bring back a report as soon as possible based on the adequacy or otherwise of spaces for ASN within each school across the city, in order to truly understand the actual requirements for each school.