Extra support for Fife school children agreed

Plans for new additional support classes for children in Kirkcaldy and Dalgety Bay have now been agreed, following a review across Fife and local consultations.

Fife Council is now basing new additional support classes in Dalgety Bay primary school and Strathallan primary school.

The council's education spokesperson Cllr Cara Hilton welcomed the move which will provide a better geographical spread of support across the Kingdom and will make a real difference to the different levels of support the council can provide for children who need it across Fife.

Most children and young people in Fife with additional support needs attend local, mainstream schools.

However some children need to access more specialised support and attend one of eight additional support classes in different primary schools across Fife.

Although there are no children across Fife waiting for a space in an additional support classroom, a few children have to travel to access support.

Consultation events on the plans for new classes took place earlier in the year. Parents and children at Dalgety Bay PS were all in favour of the proposals, while a small number of parents at Strathallan PS expressed some concerns around the impact on the school roll, resources and transport arrangements.

Cllr HIlton commented: "We'll work with parents to make sure any concerns are allayed.

"The plans agreed today will provide much needed additional support and positive benefits for children and families across Fife and I'm delighted that we can now move forward with the proposals."