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| 'Significant cuts' in education roles in Highlands proposed | 'Significant cuts' in education roles in Highlands proposed |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Highland Council has warned teachers of the potential for "significant reductions" in additional support needs staff and pupil support assistants. | Highland Council has warned teachers of the potential for "significant reductions" in additional support needs staff and pupil support assistants. |
| The local authority said other cuts being considered would affect services such as behaviour support and English as an additional language. | The local authority said other cuts being considered would affect services such as behaviour support and English as an additional language. |
| The details are in a letter sent from the council to head teachers. | The details are in a letter sent from the council to head teachers. |
| In a statement, Highland Council said a "wide range of proposals" were being considered to help it make savings. | In a statement, Highland Council said a "wide range of proposals" were being considered to help it make savings. |
| The local authority's Independent-Lib Dem-Labour administration is having to tackle an estimated budget gap of £25.8m in the coming financial year due what it what it calls the "scale of cuts imposed on the council over successive years". | The local authority's Independent-Lib Dem-Labour administration is having to tackle an estimated budget gap of £25.8m in the coming financial year due what it what it calls the "scale of cuts imposed on the council over successive years". |
| Cuts 'appalling' | Cuts 'appalling' |
| SNP councillor and former Dingwall Academy rector, Graham MacKenzie, has described the council's proposed cuts as "appalling" and said they would "worsen" the attainment gap in the Highlands. | SNP councillor and former Dingwall Academy rector, Graham MacKenzie, has described the council's proposed cuts as "appalling" and said they would "worsen" the attainment gap in the Highlands. |
| In the letter, the council said reductions in additional support needs teachers and pupil support assistants had been proposed. | In the letter, the council said reductions in additional support needs teachers and pupil support assistants had been proposed. |
| However, it added that vacancies and the turnover in these roles were "likely to protect all those presently in post". | However, it added that vacancies and the turnover in these roles were "likely to protect all those presently in post". |
| Also proposed is a reduction in specialist additional support services, excluding NHS Highland-funded services. | Also proposed is a reduction in specialist additional support services, excluding NHS Highland-funded services. |
| The letter said: "This is likely to impact in educational psychology, behaviour support, English as an additional language, interrupted learning, autism, assistive technology, and pre-school support services." | The letter said: "This is likely to impact in educational psychology, behaviour support, English as an additional language, interrupted learning, autism, assistive technology, and pre-school support services." |
| About 40 teaching posts could also be cut. This would affect medium-sized and larger secondary schools. | |
| 'Remain committed' | 'Remain committed' |
| Other possible savings outlined include having fewer crossing patrol personnel and "significantly" reducing funding to Inverness' Eden Court Theatre and to High Life Highland, which operates council-owned leisure centres, museums and libraries. | Other possible savings outlined include having fewer crossing patrol personnel and "significantly" reducing funding to Inverness' Eden Court Theatre and to High Life Highland, which operates council-owned leisure centres, museums and libraries. |
| The proposals will be considered by councillors on 15 February. | The proposals will be considered by councillors on 15 February. |
| In its statement, Highland Council said: "We have managed to protect education in previous years, and there were no new saving measures for schools last year. | In its statement, Highland Council said: "We have managed to protect education in previous years, and there were no new saving measures for schools last year. |
| "But the scale of cuts imposed on the council over successive years means it is no longer possible to sustain that level of protection. | "But the scale of cuts imposed on the council over successive years means it is no longer possible to sustain that level of protection. |
| "We remain committed to supporting education and maintaining teacher numbers as far as we can, and especially for primary schools and rural communities." | "We remain committed to supporting education and maintaining teacher numbers as far as we can, and especially for primary schools and rural communities." |
| It added "Other councils have made savings on additional need services in previous years, and we are now having to consider that. | It added "Other councils have made savings on additional need services in previous years, and we are now having to consider that. |
| "Other than this, there will be no reduction in teacher numbers in 90% of Highland schools, as we will protect all primary schools and our smaller secondary schools." | "Other than this, there will be no reduction in teacher numbers in 90% of Highland schools, as we will protect all primary schools and our smaller secondary schools." |