Agenda item

The Committee heard from Mr David Willis and Mr Kevin Masson, representing the GMB, in respect of the report at item 10.1 (Behaviour Report).

Mr Willis explained that he was the Convener of the GMB Trade Union.  He thanked the Committee for the opportunity to speak.  He asked that Members note from the report that GMB had welcomed all the commitments agreed in the action plan, however a key demand made by the GMB in response to the unacceptable behaviour that their Members were facing had not been met.  The GMB had called for a working group to be established to review the ASN provision within the city, and Mr Willis asked that the Committee give officers an instruction to undertake that review.  He explained that the GMB were seeing an increasing number of learners with additional support needs, and a limited number of places within specialist settings, meaning that more learners with complex additional support needs were placed in mainstream settings. 

He explained that the GMB were not against inclusion, but there was a need to ensure that the environment was suitable, and the resource sufficient for both the young people and the staff supporting them.  Staff needed to be suitably trained for the situations they faced, and Mr Willis explained that he did not believe that was currently the case.  He noted that he had been horrified when he first learned that bite guards were being issued to their members, and stated that PPE should always be a last resort, noting that it might reduce the risk, but it did not eliminate it completely.  He added that schools were now issuing Kevlar hoodies as staff had had their hair pulled out by the roots, and he was aware of one setting where the Kevlar sleeves had proved insufficient, and thick leather welding gauntlets were being issued instead.  Mr Willis stated that no employee should have to go to work with that level of fear for their personal safety. 

Mr Willis said that there were settings where classrooms were having to be evacuated on a daily basis due to dysregulated behaviour, and entire buildings emptied on a weekly basis.  He added that he understood that dysregulated behaviour could be a form of communication, but asked if the level of disruption would still be seen if the environment was more suitable and the child was being nourished.  He asked if the Council was ‘Getting it Right’ for that child, and indeed for every child.  Mr Willis advised that the GMB had been informed by Education officers that there was no expectation for any staff member to put their hands on a child, which was to be welcomed, and yet there was a dichotomy where members told the GMB that they had received training on how to restrain a child exhibiting dysregulated behaviour. 

Within the behaviour report, Mr Willis noted that the resilience of staff was called into question.  He added that he found this particularly galling, and believed that the examples he had given demonstrated that that section of staff were being pushed to breaking point, noting that there were many more examples available.  Mr Willis explained that essential workers were feeling undervalued and unappreciated, and he believed that a thorough review of ASN provision, and the actions that informed, would go a long way to restoring the belief that their employer was one that cared for their welfare and respected the contribution they made to nourishing the young people within their care.

Mr Masson then added that nationally, in 2013, around 131,000 pupils in schools had required ASN provision.  Recent figures showed this was now around 250,000 pupils, or 36.7% of the current school population.  During that time, every ASN child would have had a co-ordinated support plan, however Mr Masson added that this had now fallen by 60%.   Therefore the number of ASN children had doubled, but the number of support plans had halved.  He added that this information had been taken from the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition, and it stated that this was having an impact in terms of surging levels of school violence.  He explained that the GMB had seen an increase in the number of reports from their members in respect of violence against them, including being bitten, having bones broken, having hair pulled out and being scratched, not to mention the impact on their mental health from stress and trauma. 

Mr Masson explained that he was not having a go at Aberdeen City Council, nor the Education team, and in fact he thought Aberdeen was one of the best places there was and so it should be a leading example in addressing the problems.  He added that the GMB had had excellent working relationships with the Education service, and they would wholeheartedly want that to continue.  He advised that he and Mr Willis were at Committee because they wanted recognition that there was a problem with the ASN provision within mainstream settings.  He stated that it was about resource; about making sure that buildings were fit for the needs of children; about ensuring that staff had the proper training and facilities; and that there was the correct number of resources to ensure that the young learners had the best possible provision to have the best possible future.  He added that this was why the GMB had requested a working group to be set up, asking that the Council be honest and transparent and see exactly what the demand was, where Aberdeen currently sat, and whether the correct resources existed or whether more were required. 

Mr Masson referred to the Scottish Government’s Behaviour in Schools report 2023, noting that it clearly indicated that there had been a significant increase in aggressive behaviour in schools, with on average around a 50% increase.  He added that it all indicated that there was a rising surge in behaviour incidents in particular schools, but also that there was a need for ASN provision in schools to be fully supported.  He noted that the Council could not get it right for every child if it was not getting it right for the staff who supported those children.  He concluded by reiterating that the GMB requested that a transparent working group be established to review specialist provision in Aberdeen for the needs of young learners and for the safety of staff.  He noted that a ‘that will do’ attitude was a foundation stone for disaster.

Members then asked questions of the deputation.

The Committee resolved:-

to thank Mr Willis and Mr Masson for their presentation.