New figures highlighted by the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC) show a growing gap between the number of children identified with additional support needs (ASN) and those receiving a Coordinated Support Plan (CSP).  

Scottish Government data shows that the number of pupils with ASN has almost doubled over the past decade - reaching 299,445 in 2025 (43% of pupils). Meanwhile, the number of CSPs has fallen by 63%, from 3,128 in 2015 to just 1,165 in 2025. This means only 0.4% of pupils with ASN currently have a CSP, despite Scottish Government assurances that numbers would not fall. 

CSPs place statutory duties on local authorities to provide and review support, giving families legal guarantees and routes to redress. The SCSC warns that local authorities are increasingly avoiding CSPs due to resource pressures, offering non-statutory alternatives instead. 

SCSC is calling for urgent action to expand access to CSPs, remove barriers to their use, improve multi-agency collaboration, and invest in training and resources. With children with ASN disproportionately drawn from more deprived communities, the SCSC stresses that legally enforceable support is essential to closing the attainment gap and ensuring children with the most complex needs are not left behind.