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Mr Swinney says the law is quite clear on the role of the tribunal.

The education secretary says families can seek resource with a tribunal if they are not happy with local authorities.

Image source, AP

A member of staff at a Scottish school was told to "watch The Big Bang Theory" as training to deal with a pupil with Asperger syndrome, MSPs were told last week.

The Education Committee took evidence on support for pupils with additional needs.

Sylvia Haughney, a support for learning instructor, said there was not enough teacher training.

She said a support worker had been advised to watch American sitcom The Big Bang Theory as a form of training.

Colin Crawford, head of inclusion in the council's education services department, accepted there may need to be a review of what training teachers need, but said this should apply when they are at college as much as when working in schools.

Tory MSP Ross Thomson says the committee received quite overwhelming evidence from teachers about the loss of additional support teachers.

Mr Thomson cites te evidence from Sylvia Haughney, a support for learning instructor, who said there was not enough teacher training. 

She said a support worker had been advised to watch American sitcom The Big Bang Theory as a form of training.  

Image source, bbc

Mr Swinney says he saw the evidence last week and some was troubling and the autism awareness training that was cited was wholly unacceptable.

He says Glasgow City Council has provided him with information about the training for those on the autism spectrum.

Mr Swinney says performance is assessed by various stakeholders.

The education secretary says statutory responsibility rests with local authorities to ensure standards are being delivered.

He says the government are trying to ensure the needs of young people are being met. 

Possible issues to explore: 

• how mainstreaming is working in practice and whether education authorities are fulfilling their statutory duty to identify and meet additional support needs
• the impact of a reduction in the number of teaching assistants and the removal of other resources on support for ASN
• whether parents are sufficiently informed and then, once a child is recognised as having ASN, able to access ASN required for their children

Image source, Thinkstock

• the extent to which government recommended training, such as for autism, is available and staff have time to undertake it 
• whether the government is confident in its figures going forward on positive destinations for those with ASN whilst also acknowledging limitations in local authority reporting practices
• the possibility of government monitoring of the cost of ASN on education authorities (for example the possibility of a Scottish government financial review as was undertaken recently on childcare1 )
• the extent that the government will consult, and consider the Committee’s evidence, when revising the mainstreaming guidance (and the timescales for progressing this work)

Image source, bbc

Education Committee convener James Dornan begin with additional support needs and asks what work is being done to share best practice.

Education Secretary John Swinney says extended consultation on the system will begin on the 19 May and continue until August. 

Mr Swinney says PSE is a taught subject and he looks forward to engaging with committees on this. 

Image source, bbc

Education Secretary John Swinney gives an opening statement.

The Scottish government has been accused of kicking education reform "into the long grass"

Nicola Sturgeon defended "right and proper" plans to put back legislation with a large number of consultation responses to consider.

Education was raised by all opposition parties during the weekly session of first minister's questions.

There were angry exchanges as the government was accused of "stalling".

The proposed legislation was originally meant to be published early in 2017, but Education Secretary John Swinney has now said it will be published "sometime during 2017" so he has time to "chew over" some 1,100 responses to a school governance review.

Image source, PA

The Education Committee will soon take evidence on additional support needs, personal and social education and the Curriculum for Excellence from:

• Education and Skills Secretary John Swinney
• Fiona Robertson from the Scottish government
• Donna Bell from the Scottish government

Good morning and welcome to Holyrood Live on Wednesday the 8 March 2017.

First up this morning we will bring you full and extensive coverage of the Education Committee as it takes evidence from Education Secretary John Swinney on additional support needs.

This afternoon in the chamber we begin with portfolio questions as MSPs quiz education and skills ministers.

Scottish Labour will then lead a debate on education.

After decision time, SNP MSP Linda Fabiani will lead a debate to celebrate Marie Curie's Great Daffodil Appeal.