The Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee will conclude its work in March 2026 ahead of the next Scottish Parliament election. While it will continue to meet, the Committee has agreed it will not consider petitions submitted after 10 October. This is to ensure all petitions currently in the system can be considered before the next Scottish Parliament election. It is also unlikely that the Committee would be able to schedule and meaningfully progress petitions submitted after 10 October before the election. Contact the Committee team at petitions.committee@parliament.scot for more information about the petitions process.
If you are seeking emergency action or an urgent policy change please contact one of your 8 MSPs or the Scottish Government directly
Closed petition PE1953: Review Education Support staff roles
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to review Education Support (ES) staff roles in order to consider:
• Urgently raising wages for Education Support Staff across primary and secondary sectors to £26K p/a
• Increasing the hours of the working day for ES staff from 27.5 to 35 hours
• Allowing ESS to work on Personal Learning Plans with teachers/ take part in multiagency meetings.
• Requiring ESS to register with Scottish Social Services Council
• Paying ES staff monthly
Previous action taken
In my capacity working in Education, I have raised my concerns with various Scottish Ministers and my local MSP.
I have also written to various politicians including, Shirley Anne-Somerville MSP, Clare Haughey MSP, Maree Todd MSP, Carol Mochan MSP, Michael Marra MSP, Paul Sweeney MSP, Alison Thewliss MP and Susan Aitken (leader of Glasgow City Council)
I have so far not heard anything back from any of those I contacted.
Background information
ESS work with children and YP (CYP) with Autism, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, Down Syndrome, visually impaired, Hearing impairments, Mosaic Downs Syndrome, trauma, care experienced, EAL, asylum seekers, unaccompanied refugees, Social, Emotional and Behavioural Needs, CYP at risk of self-harm/ suicide, CYP with risk assessments.
• ESS are not involved in ASN Plans/multiagency work
• No SSSC registration deprives ESS of basic working standards
• ESS are not paid remuneration based on qualifications. In comparison to 5.5% wage rise for teachers in 2020 starting £27-32K whereas, ESS are paid est. £14K. Low wages mean Universal Credit dependency
• Many ESS are paid on a four-weekly basis, meaning sanctions 2/3 p/a by UC
• Many ESS are female and this affects women, including their children
• ESS roles are left unfilled. The wages are not attracting talent. People are leaving jobs facing a wage crisis.
• The Scottish Government has a legal duty to comply with (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act (2004), Inclusion, GIRFEC, UNCRC.
This petition was considered by the Scottish Parliament
40 signatures