Protesters will take to the streets outside John Muir House in Haddington on Friday to speak out against what they say is a lack of support for pupils with additional support needs (ASN).

It is expected that up to 100 parents, carers and other supporters will gather outside the building as part of the protest organised by ASN Reform Scotland who are seeking more funding for local councils to support ASN pupils.

Ashley Cantwell, 36, is from Prestonpans and has a son with ASN. She says the lack of funding is a serious issue across the country.

Ashley told the Courier: “This is a nationwide problem. In East Lothian we have no special need schools. We have mainstream schools with specific departments for ASN pupils such as The Cove at Dunbar Primary School and The Hub at Sanderson’s Wynd, Tranent.

“These departments are great, and they give kids with ASN like autism a more one to one sort of education that fits their needs.

“The issue is that it is difficult to get places in these departments. If your child doesn’t meet certain criteria, they can struggle to get a place.

“These children are then forced into mainstream classrooms where their needs are often not met because they can’t be fully supported by teachers in a class of 30 pupils.

“It is resulting in thousands of children across the country not going to school. It is unacceptable.”

ASN Reform Scotland is seeking more funding for local council areas which will be used to better fund ASN departments. Creating more space for children and ensuring more children have access to support.

The group say teachers are undertrained in helping ASN children and that support does not meet the required amount for the 34.2 per cent of children in Scotland who have ASN.

Ashley said: “We had a successful protest at Holyrood and another in Fife. East Lothian will be our third one and we have many more coming up until October.

“We are optimistic we will see a change. We have had some great support from parents, teachers and the public and we are expecting between 50 and 100 people, possibly more, to turn up on Friday.

“We want to see a change and if we can get enough support from people then I am sure we will.”

The protest takes place from noon until 3pm outside John Muir House with all members of the public invited to come along.

An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “In line with national guidance, the majority of children and young people are educated within a mainstream school.

"All mainstream schools in East Lothian are provided with predictable needs funding to meet the additional support needs of the vast majority of children and young people. In addition to this, exceptional needs funding can be accessed by individual schools to support children with complex and enduring needs.

“We have six specialist provisions situated within primary and secondary mainstream schools. All children and young people who attend have enduring, significant and complex needs that require a level of support and pace of learning significantly different to that of their peers.

“Whether in specialist provisions or mainstream schools, our staff are trained and assisted to provide the best possible support for children and young people in their class."