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Young people with complex needs ‘abandoned’ by Scottish Government, parents say

Pabio December 10, 2024

A family has said they feel “abandoned” by the Scottish Government in their pursuit of further education for their daughter who has complex needs.

Dawn and Barry Neilson, from Burntisland in Fife, were left with limited options after deciding a 120-mile daily return trip to Scotland’s only complex needs college, in Renfrewshire, was too far for their daughter Morgan, who has cerebral palsy.

The 18-year-old instead attends the Capability Scotland charity campus in Upper Springland in Perth, a 60-mile round trip, but it is not a specialist college for her educational development needs.

His parents are frustrated with the lack of choices for young people with complex needs once they finish school.

Capability Scotland’s Corseford College, near Johnstone in Renfrewshire, is Scotland’s only college dedicated to school leavers with complex needs.

Mr Neilson said: “We just feel abandoned by the Government. As soon as they no longer have a legal obligation to support themselves, they simply abandon all the children.

“It’s really sad that in 2024 there will be nothing for these young adults.

“Everyone is trying to be inclusive, but they’re only doing it to check a box. If they wanted to make a difference, they could actually create colleges for young adults with special needs.

“These children deserve to have the opportunity to go to college, to have a place to feel safe and continue their learning.

“We provide free education to all our children unless they need additional support. I find this breathtaking and almost inhumane.

“It’s not okay that the kid next door can go to college and my daughter can’t.”

Capability Scotland highlighted the contrast between Scotland’s situation and that of England and Wales, where there are more than 120 further education establishments for students with complex needs.

Ms Neilson said: “There is obviously a gap between here and England. When we researched specialist colleges there were many in the south, you can choose based on the support your child needs. In Scotland there is only one.

Morgan Neilson attends the Upper Springland campus of the charity Capability Scotland in Perth. PA Media

“Morgan was doing very well in high school, it took her years to find a platform that worked for her.

“His reading and numeracy skills were improving. Now she doesn’t understand that anymore and we’re at the point where we don’t know what Morgan is capable of.

Corseford College is in its final 12 months of a pilot project with the Scottish Government where it is working to validate the case for rolling out satellite centers across the country.

Capability Scotland said that without continued funding and assurances from Holyrood that the college will continue to be funded and satellite centers established across the country, Scotland risks not having dedicated further education services for young people school leaver with complex needs.

Brian Logan, chief executive of Capability Scotland, has called on the Scottish Government to commit to strong and fair funding in its Budget after the UK Government pledged £1 billion for special education south of the border .

He said: “The impact of our college on students and families is immense and sustained government funding would provide the security needed to expand our offerings and support every young person with complex needs in Scotland.

“We welcome the UK Government’s investment in facilities across England and hope that a similar desire to help young people with complex needs can be realized in Scotland. »

Corseford College, which opened in 2022, offers education, physical therapies, life skills and comprehensive care.

The Scottish Government has been asked for comment.