Engaging with Policy: Miles Briggs MSP Visits The Donaldson Trust

Pictured above (L to R): Miles Briggs MSP, Lynn Wassell (Chief Executive Officer), and Stephen Caulfield (Policy Lead)

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Miles Briggs MSP, joined us in Linlithgow on Monday, where he heard from service colleagues about our education, wellbeing, and skills development provision. 

Our Vibe, Gate, and Treehouse teams engaged with Miles about our approach and how we support neurodivergent individuals’ inclusion, wellbeing, and opportunities. Miles was especially receptive to our model of goal-orientated, individualised support for neurodivergent young people and adults – and the need for replicability across Scotland to address unmet needs. 

Aligned with his portfolio, Miles had a keen interest in the Sensational Learning Centre (SLC), our specialist school for neurodivergent children and young people. Angela Evans, Head of Learning Services, spoke to the challenges that mainstream settings present for many neurodivergent children and young people. She highlighted the opportunities and untapped potential that skills-based, experiential learning can provide, and how the Trust has imbedded a wellbeing curriculum in SLC. 

Other key topics in our conversation included: 

• The place of part-time timetabling in schools in Scotland 

• Reform to education bodies 

• Designing a neuro-inclusive learning estate 

• The need for action to combat the mis-use of physical restraint in learning settings 

• (Easier access to) diagnostic pathways 

• Autistic employment gap