📢 4,600+ teachers in Scotland stuck in insecure contracts. Councils block permanency, pupils lose continuity, talent is wasted. We demand: stop service-blocking, national supply register, real data + cap training. ✍️ Sign: www.change.org/scottishteac...

Please read and watch

Email sent by us on 27th June (no contact before this since November 28th 2024)

Email received from Special Advisor stating that the meeting requested was for neither John Swinney or Jenny Gilruth

1) Today, Jenny Gilruth stated that ‘her team’ had tried to organise a meeting with us several times. We sent an email on 27th June. A ‘special advisor’ emailed us 25th July. This person stated they were not acting on behalf of ‘either John Swinney or Jenny Gilruth’ (See post for emails)

We’ve launched our Crowdfunder! Neurodivergence Connect CIC is building support for neurodivergent children in Scotland. Help us make a difference. 💙 👉 www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ndconnects...

Please share and check them out! Teachers filling the Gap in ASN training. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

🧠Scottish educators! Boost your ASN knowledge with our FREE self-paced online CPD programmes: 📚 Introduction to ASN in Scottish Education 🎯 PDA Profile 🌱 Introduction to ASN in Scottish Early Years Study at your own pace. 👉 neurodivergenceconnect.co.uk/onlinecpd

Willie Rennie is absolutely right – we are angry. 💬 Sick of temp contracts. Sick of instability. 📢 It’s time for permanent jobs for Scotland’s teachers.

Neurodivergence Connect was created to help change this. We offer lived-experience CPD that fills the gap left by the system. We believe teachers want to do better. They just need the tools to get there. neurodivergenceconnect.com #InclusionMatters #ASN #NeurodivergentVoices

7. The gap between policy and practice is harming both teachers and pupils. Families feel ignored. Teachers feel unprepared. Pupils with support needs deserve more than this.

6. Teachers say: “I had no training in visual schedules or communication tools.” “I had to Google how to write an IEP.” “I learned more from parents and support staff than from my degree.”

5. Moving into ASN roles is just as unclear. There is no required qualification. No national pathway. Many teachers are placed in ASN roles without training. Some learn on the job after starting with non-verbal or high-support pupils.

4. The GTCS requires inclusive practice during probation. But there is no national requirement for ASN input. Some councils offer sessions. Others offer nothing. Teachers often rely on trial and error or ask PSAs for advice.

3. Audit Scotland confirmed the gap: “Teachers are not consistently well prepared to support pupils with ASN.” 77% of EIS members said they had no meaningful ASN training during ITE. 89% felt underprepared.

2. Many students receive just one lecture on ASN. Some say it was entirely legal background. Few ITE courses offer practical content. No course requires ASN-specific placements. Most do not involve autistic or neurodivergent voices at all.

1. GTCS and government policy claim that ASN and inclusion are built into all teacher education. But universities give vague, general statements with little detail on autism, ADHD, trauma, or practical support strategies.

🧵THREAD: The Gap in ASN Training for Teachers in Scotland Policy says teachers are trained to support all learners. But the reality in classrooms tells a different story. We reviewed teacher education, induction, and ASN roles. Here is what we found. #ASN #EducationScotland #CPD

We’re not asking the system to make space for parents. We’re showing that the space already belongs to them. Inclusion starts by recognising the knowledge they bring and building policy and practice around it.

Our CPD events change that. Parents lead. Teachers listen, ask, learn. The insights shared are personal, practical and grounded in lived experience. This isn’t theory. It’s what’s actually working for real children.

But many parents of neurodivergent children in Scotland say they’re sidelined. Meetings held without them. Expertise dismissed. Constant battles to be heard. This isn’t inclusion. It’s obstruction.

Scotland’s own guidance is clear: “parents, carers and families are by far the most important influences in a child’s life” and “when parents and schools work together, children do better.” (Scottish Government, 2018)

International research backs this: when teachers partner with parents, pupil outcomes improve. Behaviour, academic progress, confidence, attendance, emotional regulation – all benefit. (Harris & Goodall, 2007)

Too often, parents are treated as passive participants in the system. Yet they are the ones who notice patterns, advocate for adjustments, and understand what helps or harms their child across every setting.

Neurodivergence Connect is built on one core belief: parents are experts in their child’s needs. Not part-time experts. Not emotional side-notes. Experts. Our research shows why their knowledge must be central in education. A short thread 🧵

This is what contempt for Scotland’s teachers looks like. A full Holyrood debate on the crisis in teaching — insecure contracts, staff shortages, burnout. The government benches? Empty. If this is leadership, every teacher has the right to ask: do they even care?

Please give these guys a follow!

6/ So that’s us We’re ND Connect Scotland If you’re a teacher, sign up If you’re a parent with insight to share, we want to hear from you And if you believe in this, follow and share 💜 #NeurodivergenceConnect #ASNScotland #InclusionMatters #TeacherCPD

5/ Why are we doing this? Because parents are experts Because teachers want to do better Because the system isn’t working well enough, and change starts with real conversations

4/ Our first event is in just 5 days Over 70 teachers have already signed up And it’s completely free 🗓 Tuesday 3rd June 🕢 7.30pm to 8.30pm 💻 Online 📥 Sign up: www.neurodivergenceconnect.com/simpl-e-sche...

3/ We’re running a brand new CPD event where teachers can ✅ Ask real questions ✅ Get practical, honest answers ✅ Hear what actually works, from parents who live it every day Just lived insight and support

2/ We bring together two worlds that don’t talk nearly enough 🏫 Educators 🏡 Parents of neurodivergent children When teachers hear directly from parents, something powerful happens 💥

🧵1/ Hey 👋 We’re Neurodivergence Connect Scotland We’re something a bit different. Not a service. Not a campaign group. Not just another training session We’re a conversation that’s been missing for too long 💬

🚨We FOI’d every Scottish council to find out how many teachers are on supply contracts. Here’s what we found: 2017: 6,052 2018: 6,563 2019: 6,648 2020: 7,137 2021: 8,800 2022: 10,583 2023: 11,027 2024: 11,145 That’s an 84% rise since 2017.

🚨Our 2025 Probationer Survey results🚨 • ❌ Only 3.6% secured a permanent or fixed-term post • 📢 Over 60% reported a lack of clear communication from councils • ❓ 73% felt unsupported by their local authority drive.google.com/file/d/1i94Z...

🚨We asked over 1,500 people across Scotland what they really think about teacher job insecurity🚨 The results? Unignorable.

We asked 1,500+ people across Scotland about unstable teaching contracts. The results: 🔍 96% aware 🙋‍♀️ 94% know affected teachers 🏫 89% say not enough permanent staff 🔁 84% see high turnover 📉 97% say pupils are impacted #STfP #EducationCrisis

Please share to reach as many as possible. We need more teachers. Permanent posts to promote consistency in the classroom and in our educators lives.

As someone currently in this position, I wasn’t told I couldn’t stay at my school until the very day schools closed for Easter. It’s utterly heartbreaking—for me, and for the pupils I teach. We build strong, trusting relationships, only to be pulled away with no warning.

Yesterday, Jenny Gilruth said in parliament that supply was a choice for many teachers in Scotland. Today, we asked 787 supply teachers if this was true. 97% of them told us that they rather not be on supply.

me and my boy 🐕

Successful burns night!

Half decent recipe - scottishscran.com/whisky-sauce...

Hosting my first burns dinner tonight! I know this is probably a silly question and my mind has blanked, but do you make gravy for burns dinner?

January walks 🐕

Is this the one app left that isn’t wild with racism and right wingers now?

I think I’m a bit too addicted to The Traitors… I’ve now watched every season of the UK, AU, USA, Canada and NZ versions and I’m up to date as the weeks go on 😂

Occasional reminder that there’s no, “it’s too late, its over” for anthropogenic climate change. Every molecule of CO2 that doesn’t go into the atmosphere makes a difference. Preventing 0.1 degree of warming makes a difference. Every bit of climate resilience we build together makes a difference.

fresh haircut ✨

I’m back in the classroom tomorrow after not being able to get any work for 7 months 😅